Zohran Mamdani hails Sócrates and Democracia Corinthiana in World Cup address | OneFootball

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani used his city programme to salute Corinthians icon Sócrates and Democracia Corinthiana while outlining logistics and security plans for the 2026 World Cup opener between Brazil and Morocco at 19:00 Brasília time. According to Meu Timao, he made the remarks on Friday during "The Morning Pitch", shared on the city's social channels.

The mini programme, fronted by Mamdani, usually offers traffic, weather and events updates. This edition widened the lens to football's influence on society and political history.

Mamdani said he had been thinking about Sócrates, not the ancient philosopher but the Brazilian midfield leader who captained his country at the 1982 World Cup and played for Corinthians from 1978 to 1984. He described the Doctor as more than an athlete, a symbol of resistance during Brazil's military rule from 1964 to 1985.

He pointed to Corinthians' role through Democracia Corinthiana, an experiment in self-government that gave everyone at the club an equal vote, from the star centre-forward to laundry staff.

He recalled players taking a political message onto the pitch, wearing jackets emblazoned with "Eu quero votar para presidente". He linked that spirit to football's capacity to give millions a sense of belonging, connection with neighbours and shared solidarity.

He added that the game has helped to build movements, challenge dictators and, for 90 minutes at a time, offered ways to confront problems. He closed by praising the sport's enduring beauty.

Source: Meu Timao