Brazil sends off its World Cup team in the most Catholic way possible

Brazil has very interesting ways of honoring its soccer team.

The South American country is often credited as being the most Catholic country in the world, and its people seemingly showed it as their team took off for the World Cup, hosted in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

'The event represents the collective hope of the entire nation.'

Brazilians on the runway at Rio de Janeiro's Galeão International Airport celebrated their team's departure by conducting what has been described as both a gigantic blessing and a customary baptism-like ritual.

ESPN reported that the team's Boeing jet was "blessed" by two airport fire trucks before departing Rio, with their water cannons blasting arches of water as the plane slowly moved through.

Catholicism and soccer are quite the big deal in Brazil; the country is often credited as having the largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 182 million practicing worshippers, representing about 13% of the world's total Catholics, according Premier Christian News.

Some Brazilian stars were baptized in 2025, including Liverpool star Alisson Becker and his former teammate Roberto Firmino.

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The Sun noted that the airport staff sought and received permission from the Brazilian Football Confederation to authorize the plane's blessing before spraying the water on the Boeing 767-300ER.

International outlets have emphasized the importance of the world tournament to Brazil and its people, with Marca describing the "baptism" of sorts as customary for Brazilian aircraft before important takeoffs. It also said the event represents the collective hope of the entire nation that wants to bring home another World Cup title.

Brazil has the most World Cup wins of any country, with five. Germany and Italy both have four. Brazil is also the only country to have been in every single tournament since the World Cup began in 1930.

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VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

This isn't the first time Brazilians have given an airplane the royal treatment before the big tournament. In 2022, fans covered a different Boeing jet at a shopping mall with stickers and murals commemorating the team.

Branded with the Brazilian soccer logo, the 2026 team jet is priced at $170 million and was previously used by the Rolling Stones for their 60th anniversary tour in 2022.

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