while a significant proportion of the population play football, an even greater number avidly support a team - for the most part, cariocas are born supporters of a particular group, which weaves itself into the fabric of their identity as they develop and mature.

there are four main teams in rio, to which almost every carioca is affiliated, which include flamengo, fluminense, botafogo and vasco da gama - the team a carioca supports is largely determined by either family traditions or the neighborhood in which they were born and raised - supporters of particular teams will span across a wide range of social classes and personalities.

there tends to be deep rivalries between certain teams and their supporters - friends will sit around for hours dissecting the sport, the efficacy of a free kick, or a referee's decisions.