Brazil Celebrates Soccer’s World Cup by Painting Its Streets

By Todd R. Weiss

With colorful streamers above and painted flags and other designs laid out over the asphalt, Rua Cafe Filho is a bright and decorative street in Natal, Brazil.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pereira Nunes is a street blazing with color and energy. The “Galera da Pereira Nunes” group has been decorating this street for each World Cup since 1986, according to Google.

On Rua Tavares Bastos, another street in Rio de Janeiro, graffiti artists created this colorful wall mural to celebrate the World Cup.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil, this street, Rua Geraldo Alves de Carvalho, has been beautifully painted for each World Cup since 1990.

Here in Sao Paulo, this street, Rua Capitão Siqueira Barbosa, won “The Best Painted Street” award in the neighborhood during the 2010 World Cup tournament.

Here on Rua Itabaiana, a street in Sao Paulo, families work together to paint their décor for each World Cup. This year they painted stars and other colorful figures.

Here in Manaus, a Brazilian flag made from streamers flies over a series of colorful messages painted along the street Rua São Cristovão.

The family of former soccer player Denner Paulino Barbosa lives on this street, Rua Coronel Francisco de Araújo, in Sao Paulo and helps to organize the street painting and decorating in their neighborhood.

With green and yellow streamers flying proudly above on the Rua São Paulo in Natal, this cobblestone street features a large painted Brazilian flag as well as other subtle decorations.

These brightly painted portraits of soccer stars decorate this urban playing field on Rua Tavares Bastos in Rio de Janeiro.

The flag of Brazil is the dominant and colorful theme in this narrow alley, Travessa São Camilo, in Sao Paulo.

Since 1994, this street, Rua Limão Natal, south of Sao Paoulo, has been painted by community members. Color fills the street and walls in a mosaic of tones.

Painted flags and messages of support for the Brazilian soccer team cover this street, Rua Vinte e Cinco de Março in Natal, Brazil, for the games.

Colorful stripes in the hues of the Brazilian flag decorate this street, Rua Padre Agostinho Poncet, north of Sao Paulo, as Brazilian flag streamers fly overhead.