So, What’s Your Team?

In a taxi, at a bar, or in the boardroom, one question transcends all others: “Qual o seu time?”

If there’s one thing you should know about doing business in Brazil, it’s that you must have a team. A soccer team, that is.

From the moment they exit the womb, Brazilians live and die supporting their favorite soccer teams. Those from São Paulo generally support Palmeiras, São Paulo, Corinthians, or Santos; those from Rio tend to cheer for Botafogo, Fluminense, or Flamengo. Even among best friends, the rivalries are on full display.

How do they choose teams, you ask? It’s often a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation like a recipe. And yes, it gets tricky when one spouse roots for Palmeiras while the other roots for Corinthians. Just imagine that poor child.

The addiction to soccer is visible everywhere in Brazil, including in the workplace. Remember, we’re talking about a country that all but shuts down during the World Cup. Brazilians are passionate soccer fans.

Every country has its own cultural norms and ways of conducting business. But in Brazil, meetings rarely start without small talk. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the first meeting or the hundredth. A few minutes talking futebol is unavoidable.

So be prepared for the question and know that soccer is just another way that Brazilians bond - both in business and in their personal lives. And if you want to impress your Brazilian business partners, just ask them the question: “So, what’s your team?”