An Open Letter to Brazil thanking them for hosting FIFA World Cup 2014

The Maracana overlooked by Christ the Redeemer

Dear Brazil,

With a warm heart, I write to you as someone who has completely fallen in love by the way you hosted FIFA World Cup 2014. Your whole-hearted welcome to the most beautiful game on earth left us mesmerized. Everything was going so wonderful until the 1-7 drubbing of Seleção Boys by the hands of Germans at Belo Horizonte. Seeing the entire nation weep saddened a million hearts in our country as well. It’s not the end of World for you Brazil. Do not give up faith in your players and this sport. World Football without the samba flavour of Brazil is not World Football at all. The sun will shine on your shores again.

At Estádio Mineirão, it was heart-warming to see an elderly fan of yours holding tightly a World Cup replica at 0-5 score line. The live pictures of the spectacled boy and that lady sobbing uncontrollably made us feel what football means to you. Later the same elderly fan was pictured giving the World Cup replica to a young German fan with utmost dignity. It was as if the elderly fan was giving his own child and telling her that be honored and always show love to this trophy. Hats off to that elderly fan for showing the sportsman spirit. He had a lovely hat I must say.

And, Christ - the Redeemer, you don’t need to have a facepalm moment like what these internet memes suggest. Your samba boys are exceptionally talented. They were just too young to face mighty Germans who suffered a similar ill fate in 2006. Football's spiritual home needs you to stand tall and keep your hands stretched in the endless horizon with pride. We all just love you that way.

Brazil is thousand and thousand miles away from us. We might not have a chance in our lives to stroll in this sunshine country. However, this World Cup has been a window to this beautiful, intriguing and ever jovial Latin American country. The Copacabana, Ipanemas and Christ - the Redeemer unveil the glossy side of Rio. While the favelas of Rocinha, only few miles away from iconic Maracana, with layers and layers of homes on mountain are so intriguing as well.

I must thank Google Street view for letting us view how passionately you decorated the streets and painted the compound walls. The streets seemed had a close resemblance to Indian streets. The stark difference quite likely is that in India at every few metres we have a temple or a mosque. However, in Brazil, at every few metres we are most likely to find a football pitch. Maybe that is what explains why Brazil is undoubtedly the spiritual home of football as the sport is so intricately weaved in the fabric of nation’s culture.

At Brasilia in the 3rd play-off match, a fan was pictured with a placard saying ‘Sentimento Nao Pode Parar. Sou Brasil Sempre’, which meant ‘The feeling can’t stop. Always Brazil.’ With that, I simply fell in love with the passion of your fans, all over again.

I may not have been rooting for Brazil in the World Cup. However, now I am gripped by your passion for the sport. Tell your boys to work even harder. Mix flair with shrewd tactics and they will be back making others dance to their tune on the football field.

Brazil, you were a great host. FIFA should probably hold every 3rd or 4th World Cup in this spiritual home of football. That’s how much we loved the way you welcomed the sport. Even thousand miles away we enjoyed your hospitality. No matter who wins the World Cup. You have won a billion and billion hearts.

Thanks for the wonderful memories.

Obrigado Brazil.