CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Vinícius Júnior of Brazil celebrates his goal with teammates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Scotland and Brazil at Miami Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Miami Gardens, United States.

Soccer

Vinícius Has Brazil Believing Again

Billy Haisley

People celebrate after the announcement of Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. during an event to announce Brazil's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Museum of Tomorrow, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil Couldn’t Kill Its Idol, So It Brought Him Along To The World Cup

Betty Boop is awakened by city noise in her bedroom.

Music

Brazilian Funk Continues Innovating Methods For Getting Your Shit Rocked

Rafaela Bassili

Arts And Culture

Anatomy Of A Gaucho

Marta Vieira and Kerolin Israel of Brazil hold the trophy after the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina 2025 Final match between Colombia and Brazil at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium on August 2, 2025 in Quito, Ecuador.

The Copa América Femenina Final Had It All: Goals, Controversy, And Marta

Memphis Depay of Corinthians celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Brasileirao 2024 match between Corinthians and Bahia at Neo Quimica Arena on December 3, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Memphis Depay Was Made For Brazil

Rachelle Hampton

Brazilian gymnast Flávia Saraiva kisses her medal.

Gymnastics

Flávia Saraiva Remains A Star

Kerolin #7 of Team Brazil celebrates scoring her team's fourth goal during the Women's semifinal match between Brazil and Spain during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on August 06, 2024 in Marseille, France.

Brazil Was Fearless

Israel Daramola

Gold medalist Yuto Horigome of Team Japan (C), Silver medalist Jagger Eaton of Team United States (L) and Bronze medalist Nyjah Huston of Team United States (R) pose on the podium uring the Men's Street Finals on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.

Olympics

In Street Skateboarding’s Second Olympics, Japan Cements Itself On Top

Ray Ratto

Sometimes Ugly Gets The Job Done

Ronaldinho Gaúcho of União sends a kiss to his fans during Futebol Solidário match at Maracana Stadium on May 26, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ronaldinho Blames It All On The Deodorant

Patrick Redford

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 21: Vinicius Junior attends the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the LA Clippers on December 21, 2023 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Vinicius Jr. Pays Visit To Best Cities In America, Also Los Angeles

Santos experiences agony over first-ever relegation from Brazilian first division

Santos Suffers Historic, Agonizing Relegation For First Time In 111 Years

Luis Diaz of Colombia celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Colombia and Brazil at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez on November 16, 2023 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Reunited With Kidnapped Father, Luis Díaz Took On Brazil And Won

<p>Andre Kobayashi Deckrow is Post-Doctoral Associate in the Heritage Studies and Public History program and the Department of History at the University of Minnesota. He is currently working on a book about Japanese state-led migration to São Paulo in the 1920s and &#8217;30s. When not teaching or researching, he can be found rooting for Seattle sports teams or cooking Japanese food.</p>


Andre Kobayashi Deckrow

Pedro Okuda of Team Brazil celebrates a win over Panama in the WBC qualifiers in 2012.

How Baseball Became Brazilian

Antony #11 of Team Brazil looks on during the Men's First Round Group D match between Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 25, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Antony Dropped From Brazil Squad Over Domestic Violence Case

The players of Jamaica celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Jamaica and Brazil at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Jamaica Showed How Much Not Losing Can Mean

Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates after scoring her team's third goal during during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Brazil and Panama at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 24, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia.

Brazil’s Quintessentially Brazilian Goal Is Soccer At Its Finest

Debinha #9 celebrates with her teammate Marta #10 of Brazil after scores 1st goal during the match between Japan and Brazil at Exploria Stadium on February 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

It’s Brazil Versus Time At This World Cup

Croatia's goalkeeper #01 Dominik Livakovic deflects a shot from Brazil's forward #21 Rodrygo during a penalty shootout during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022.

Internationals

Croatia Did The Impossible By Beating The Inevitable

Tom Ley

Brazil Finally Started Dancing

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

Casemiro of Brazil scores their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Brazil and Switzerland at Stadium 974 on November 28, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

This Is How Brazil Will Win The World Cup

Richarlison Found What He’s Been Looking For

Neymar Junior of Brazil celebrates his goal during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France.

Brazil