The Brazilian supporters looked like a minority in the throng of football fans of all origins wearing the yellow “Seleção” jerseys, one of the favorites of this World Cup which starts on Sunday.

Everyone was overcome with emotion when the bus carrying the Brazilian players arrived late at night in Qatar, in front of the luxury hotel where the Brazilian players will stay for the duration of the competition, before their first game Thursday against Serbia.

“Why do non-Brazilians support the Brazilian team? Because it’s the best in the world, of course! “Excited for Kelly Dias, director of a Brazilian cosmetics company, who traveled to Doha from Madrid where she lives.

“The majority of people who weren’t born in Brazil support us, we see it on the streets. Brazil is the favorite,” assures the 39-year-old woman.

The fan group, “torcida”, stayed more than three hours near the Westin hotel in Doha to see their idol through the bus window: Neymar.

“I wanted to see Neymar, that’s why I came,” said Lijo Mathew, a 24-year-old Indian administrative employee who has lived in Qatar for seven years.

Several media outlets criticized these “fake” supporters, paid to support Brazil, Argentina or England, much to the chagrin of the authorities who denied this information which was described as “disappointing and shocking”.

“That is wrong”

Haneef, who runs a public relations firm in Doha, doesn’t like the claims either.

He pulled out his phone to show footage of a Brazil supporter he said he took at Bekal Fort, his hometown in the Indian state of Kerala.

“That’s wrong, it’s a fake message. In Kerala, many Brazilian fans like Neymar, Brazil because you know, India is not very good at football,” he explained.

Like him, who have been Brazilian champions since their triumph in 2002, many believe that “Canarinha” will win the cup this year, for the sixth time in its history.

“Since the 1998 World Cup in France, I have supported Brazil. I am really fanatical about Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Kaka,” said Badrudeen, who admits he has worked in Qatar for four years.

“This will be our sixth world title”, said the man born in India 34 years ago in Kerala, wearing a “Seleção” jersey.

The presence of all these amateurs from Asia and the Middle East hardly comes as a surprise to Erick Miranda, a 14 year old Brazilian schoolboy, who lives in Qatar with his family. Quite the contrary.

“The atmosphere was great, with lots of people cheering for our country bringing home the trophy for the sixth time. We are the best in the world,” he said.