Let’s state the obvious: Kansas City and São Paulo are nothing alike. One has frozen tundras and tailgate chili; the other has rainforests and feijoada. The Chiefs are basically fish out of water—except these fish are 300-pound linemen.
Andy Reid will have to manage the heat. Brazil in late August is winter, but winter there means 70°F and humid. Poor Patrick Mahomes might actually sweat through his warm-up jacket.
Then there’s the football culture clash. In the U.S., fans scream “defense!” In Brazil, they’ll scream “gol!” when a kicker boots a field goal. Imagine the confusion during a two-minute drill.
Quirky Facts to Ponder
Did you know the Chiefs have a Brazilian connection? Their kicker, Harrison Butker, is of Brazilian descent. His mom is from Rio. He might finally get to practice his samba dance after a game-winning kick.
Also, the team’s mascot, K.C. Wolf, will probably have to wear a safety vest in the São Paulo streets. Have you seen their traffic? Yikes.
Chiefs feel confident in plan ahead of trip to Brazil
And get this: the game will be played at Corinthians Arena. It’s a soccer stadium. The grass is different, the sidelines are tight, and the goalposts are right next to the stands. Expect a few players to high-five fans mid-play.
