New York mayor cites Sócrates, Corinthians Democracy in World Cup speech | OneFootball

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mentioned Corinthians and club icon Sócrates during an edition of “The Morning Pitch,” shared on the North American city’s official social media accounts. The remarks were made last Friday (12), during a broadcast focused on preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with New York set to be one of the tournament’s host cities.

The program hosted by the mayor brings together information on traffic, weather, and city events, but in this edition, Mamdani used the context of the global competition to talk about the relationship between soccer, society, and historical movements.

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During his speech, the politician highlighted the trajectory of Sócrates, Corinthians’ former midfielder from 1978 to 1984, remembered not only for his performances on the pitch, but also for his role in Corinthians Democracy, a movement created within the club during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Mamdani emphasized that the player became a symbol of resistance by defending democratic ideals at a time marked by political repression in Brazil.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking about Sócrates — not the ancient Greek philosopher, but the Brazilian midfield maestro. Sócrates played for Brazil in the 1970s and ’80s, including at the 1982 World Cup, where he captained the national team. These were difficult years in Brazil. A repressive military junta ruled the country, imposing its control by force.”

Next, the New York mayor recalled the creation of Corinthians Democracy, a movement that involved players, coaching staff, and club employees in a model of collective participation in internal decisions.

According to Mamdani, the initiative represented an attempt to put democratic values into practice within soccer, allowing different members of Corinthians to take part in the club’s decisions.

“At Corinthians, the club he captained, Sócrates and his teammates took part in what ordinary Brazilians dreamed of: democracy. They began an experiment in self-government called Corinthians Democracy. Whether you were the star center forward or worked in the laundry room, you had a vote.”

The mayor also cited one of the most striking moments in Sócrates’ connection to the political issues of the time: the use of protest messages on the shirts worn by Corinthians during matches.

Mamdani recalled the phrase “I want to vote for president,” displayed by the players amid the movement for direct elections in Brazil.

“And while the military dictatorship tortured and killed its citizens, Sócrates led the players onto the field wearing jackets with the words ‘I want to vote for president’ on the back.”

In the final part of his speech, the mayor connected the history of soccer to the sport’s social impact around the world, highlighting its ability to create bonds between different people.

“As we prepare to celebrate the World Cup here in New York, we are celebrating a sport that has given millions of people around the world — so many poor and forgotten — a sense of belonging, a connection to their neighbor, a feeling of shared solidarity. Soccer has created movements, helped topple dictators, and for 90 minutes at a time, has not only allowed us to forget our problems, but to find ways to overcome them. What a beautiful game.”

The tribute comes during the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The competition’s opening match in New York features Brazil and Morocco, scheduled for this Saturday (13) at 7 p.m. (Brasília time).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.