Corinthians Corinthians: The Heartbeat Of Brazil
Founded in 1910 by a group of laborers in São Paulo, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista emerged as a symbol of resistance and pride for Brazil’s working class.
Unlike elite clubs like Flamengo or São Paulo FC, Corinthians was built on the ethos of inclusivity, earning the nickname (The People’s Team).
Over a century later, the club remains a cultural and political force, but beneath its passionate fanbase and sporting triumphs lie deep contradictions financial instability, political exploitation, and social tensions that mirror Brazil’s own struggles.
While Corinthians embodies the spirit of Brazilian identity through its working-class roots and mass appeal, the club’s internal mismanagement, commercialization, and politicization reveal a fractured institution that both reflects and exacerbates the nation’s inequalities.
Corinthians’ mythology is rooted in its defiance of elitism.
Unlike Rio’s Fluminense or Santos (Pelé’s club), Corinthians was founded by factory workers excluded from established teams.
This legacy persists: its (fan groups) are among Brazil’s most militant, with (Hawks of the Faithful) organizing protests and social campaigns.
Scholar Bernardo Buarque (2015) notes that Corinthians’ identity is inextricable from São Paulo’s urban underclass, a claim supported by the club’s 35 million supporters Brazil’s second-largest fanbase.
Yet this populist image is increasingly at odds with reality.
The 2014 construction of Arena Corinthians (now Neo Química Arena) for the World Cup, funded partly by public money, displaced thousands in Itaquera, a working-class district.
Investigative reports (*Folha de S.
PauloPluri ConsultoriaUOL EsporteWho really controls Corinthians?Gaviões da Fiel* marched against rising bus fares, aligning with leftist movements.
Yet by 2018, factions within the torcidas backed far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, exploiting the club’s symbolism for populist gain.
Political scientist Esther Solano (2020) warns that football tribalism is weaponized to fragment social movements.
The club’s leadership has also been implicated in corruption.
Ex-president Andrés Sánchez was investigated in for alleged kickbacks, though charges were later dropped.
Such scandals fuel cynicism among fans, with protests erupting in 2023 over ticket prices and team performance.
Corinthians’ influence extends beyond sports.
Samba enredo (2015) celebrated the club’s centennial, while funk artist MC Guimê’s anthem has 200+ million YouTube views.
Yet critics argue the club fails to leverage this cultural capital for social good.
While it funds youth academies, reports (, 2021) highlight neglect of racial inequality only 30% of its senior squad in 2023 were Black, despite Brazil’s majority-Black population.
Corinthians remains Brazil’s emotional heartbeat, a testament to resilience and collective identity.
Yet its financial instability, political co-option, and commodification reveal a club at a crossroads.
As journalist Juca Kfouri observes, Corinthians is both Brazil’s mirror and its escape valve a distraction from crises it cannot solve.
For the (Faithful), the challenge is reconciling nostalgia with accountability, ensuring their club remains in more than just name.
The broader implication is stark: in a nation grappling with inequality and institutional distrust, even the most beloved symbols are not immune to exploitation.
Corinthians’ future may depend on whether it can reclaim its roots or if it will succumb to the very forces it once defied.
O Clube da PeopleFootball and Populism.