A group of Brazilian fans who went to Samara to root for their squad in the last 16 game against Mexico visited a children’s hospital in Samara to put on an entertaining show and give presents to the patients.
The Samba Boys' fans, donning shaggy wings and clown noses, made an improvised Brazilian carnival in the hospital halls, dancing and singing songs with the Russian kids.
The seven fans wearing Brazil’s yellow-green kit played football with the children using balloons instead of balls.
“We just want to bring the World Cup atmosphere to the hospital, so that kids who cannot attend the event could feel the championship spirit,” the fans said. “We want to bring love and happiness [to the kids] and to show how friendly and funny Brazilian people are.”
The group, called ‘Happy fans’, was found in 2008 as a football initiative aimed at supporting the Brazilian team. It later evolved into a charity group which, among many other activities, provides support to homeless children, a problem which still remains acute in Brazil.
Brazil will face Mexico on July 2 in Samara for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.