Lucas Calegari, a resident of Porto Acre, a small town with about 18,000 inhabitants in the state of Acre, has turned his passion for sports into a global grandstand adventure. A lifelong fan of Brazil, he grew up following the country across all sports—from soccer to Rubens Barrichello’s Sunday morning races, to Guga and Marta. Today, he travels the world like a global citizen, chasing Brazil and its athletes.
Born in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Lucas moved to Acre with his parents at age 9. The distance from major sporting events meant his first big tournament experience didn’t come until 2014, when he watched the historic Belgium vs. USA match, where American goalkeeper Tim Howard set a record for most saves in a single World Cup game. That experience planted a seed that soon bore fruit.
“During the Rio Olympics, I was a university student. I bought the cheapest tickets, half-price. I paid just 20 reais for some events. I only missed two days of competitions. I saw Robson Conceição win gold in boxing, Alisson and Bruno’s semifinal victory in beach volleyball. One of the most emotional moments was the football final. I didn’t have a ticket, so I went with my uncles to Pier Mauá, where there were big screens. It was packed, and seeing Brazil win gold was incredible. I also remembered that Weverton, the starting goalkeeper, was from Acre,” Lucas recalled.
His engagement grew further until 2018, when he discovered the Movimento Verde Amarelo (MVA), a fan group created in 2008 to support Brazilian athletes worldwide. A sports journalist since 2019, Lucas got closer to MVA during the World Cup in Russia after watching videos of Brazilian fans celebrating in the stands online. Drawn to stadium atmospheres since childhood, he saw in MVA a way to follow Brazil in an organized, permanent manner.
“My first Brazil national team game was in 2019: Brazil’s Copa América opener against Bolivia at Morumbi. When I lived in São Paulo, the opening match was there, and I got the chance to go,” Lucas said.
Later in 2019, he attended a friendly between Brazil and Argentina women’s teams at Pacaembu, Pia Sundhage’s debut as coach. That game marked his first in-person contact with MVA members, and he realized the group aimed to grow and follow Brazil in different competitions.
During the pandemic, Lucas returned to Acre to be near family but stayed active in the group. Even from afar, he helped organize virtual events during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. MVA, recognized by the Brazilian Olympic Committee as the official fan group of Team Brazil, hosted live streams overnight to support Brazilian athletes across various sports.
As his involvement deepened, Lucas took on roles within the organization, becoming the tennis captain—a sport he loves. Since 2023, he has worked professionally for MVA, which now organizes Brazilian fan presence at international competitions.
In 2024, he lived a dream many sports fans would envy: he accompanied a Brazilian national team to a world championship title. Alone, he traveled to Uzbekistan for the Futsal World Cup. Brazil, seeking a sixth title after years of disappointment, played over 13,000 kilometers away. The chances of finding a Brazilian fan there were slim, but Lucas made it—after a typical backpacker’s ordeal.
“Between the group stage and knockouts, I decided to explore the country. Train rides were very cheap, so I took advantage. I always travel at night to save a hotel night. But on one trip, the timing didn’t match, and in many countries you can’t check in during the early hours. When I arrived at Tashkent station, everything was closed. I walked around, found some chairs upstairs, and just slept there,” he laughed.
The adventure paid off. “I brought a horn I bought in Bologna, Italy, during the Davis Cup. When I entered the arena, I blew the horn and started shouting ‘Brazil!’ The players were surprised,” Lucas recalled. As the tournament progressed, his constant presence made him almost part of the team. “In the end, after winning the title, I was invited to the players’ celebration. Coach Marquinhos Xavier told me the party was for me too,” Lucas beamed.
Now, preparations are underway for the World Cup in the United States. Through MVA, Lucas secured tickets in the “Follow My Team” category, offering cheaper tickets for fans identified with a country. If Brazil is eliminated, he loses access to remaining tickets. MVA gained even more relevance after being recognized by the Brazilian Football Confederation as the main organized fan group for the 2026 World Cup, allowing it to help distribute tickets to Brazilian fans.
