REUTERS/Paul Childs TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Scotland v Brazil - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - June 24, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. with teammates during the national anthem before the match
No country has more success at the FIFA World Cup than Brazil. La Seleçao has won the legendary tournament a record five times.
However, the Brazilians have not won the World Cup since 2002, and it seems like things are moving in the wrong direction after a recent Round of 16 exit at the hands of Norway, which had not even appeared in the tournament since 1998 and had never reached the quarterfinals.
So, what went wrong for Brazil? Was it the lack of creativity in the midfield? Or perhaps the fact that the team didn’t have a true No. 9 up top. Maybe it comes down to leaving players like Joao Pedro and an injured Estevao at home in favor of Neymar?
Nope, that can’t be it! According to thousands of Brazilian fans, the issue is much larger than that.
Brazil Fans Blame Fall Of Catholicism For FIFA World Cup Failing
Catholicism is Brazil’s largest religion, with nearly 57 percent of the country’s population practicing it as of 2022 and its roots dating back to 1500.
Brazilian legends such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Pele were extremely public about their devotion to the religion.
However, in the 21st century, and specifically in the last 16 years or so, the country has seen a large swing to Protestantism thanks largely in part to Neo-Pentecostalism, which is an evangelical wing of the Protestant religion and has differing religious focuses than Catholicism.
So, why the history lesson?
Well, because thousands and thousands of Brazil fans believe that this change is why the national team is no longer winning the World Cup.
Truly.
The decline of Brazilian football: a story in four pictures https://t.co/5c6lV2cnXO pic.twitter.com/vw6ApdJVU2
— Institute for Hispano Studies (@hispano_studies) July 6, 2026
Sempre foi assim e mesmo assim ganhamos 5 copas. Mas foi só os jogadores virarem merdangélicos que tudo começou a desandar. https://t.co/N6mfnq2dPi
— Nuno Carbr (@brcbraga) July 6, 2026
Falamos disso há anos. É mais um elemento da destruição do fut br: neocrentismo importado dos Eua. https://t.co/GLovFnbwBN
— Um Marco na História 🧢 (@MarcoGorgar) July 6, 2026
Seriously, there was even a whole academic study on the matter! A quick search of X shows that Brazilian fans have been arguing for days over the potential correlation.
Now, listen, we here at BroBible dot com are not in the business of discussing religion. Therefore, we will not be ruling on the validity of the argument.
But it is absolutely WILD that somehow the country’s shifting religious identity has come to the forefront of its World Cup struggles.
What’s even crazier is that they’re bringing facts to break it up! England in 1966 was the only predominantly Protestant country to win the World Cup.
Is there any correlation there? That’s not for me to say! But clearly, a whole ton of Brazilians believe so.