For many, the World Cup is the event that stops the planet every four years. For Ynara Correa da Costa, a 54-year-old Brazilian systems analyst, it is the center of her life. She has transformed following the Brazilian national team into her personal project, dedicating most of her savings to this passion.
With six World Cups experienced since her debut in the United States in 1994 and a seventh on the horizon, Ynara considers herself an experienced fan. She states that her motivation is pure passion, without receiving any remuneration.From the roar of the vuvuzelas in South Africa 2010 to the compact format of Qatar 2022 —where she attended 20 matches—, Ynara has barely missed two World Cups in more than three decades. In addition, she accompanies the ‘Canarinha’ in competitions such as the Copa América and the Olympic Games, so her appointment is not every four years, but practically every two.
Her routine is clear: as soon as a tournament concludes, she starts saving for the next one. She books flights and accommodations years in advance to reduce costs, aware that access to these events has become increasingly exclusive.
The Origin of a Devotion
Although he didn’t grow up in a soccer environment, his passion was born at the age of 16, when he attended a classic between Corinthians and Palmeiras. That experience marked his affinity for Corinthians and, soon after, his love for the Brazilian national team.
In 1994, still as an intern, she paid in 20 installments for a package to travel to the World Cup in the United States, where she witnessed Brazil’s fourth championship. That memory remains, as she confesses, the highest point of her life as a fan.Heading to the 2026 World Cup
For the next World Cup in North America, Ynara has already planned the first phase in cities like New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami. However, she acknowledges that the logistics between the United States, Mexico, and Canada represent an economic and organizational challenge.
It is highlighted that, for the first time, the Brazilian Football Confederation provided official fan groups with ticket packages at more affordable prices than those on the general market, a key help for those who want to accompany the team.The dream of the hexachampionship
Without superstitious rituals, Ynara only needs her green and yellow shirt and her voice in the stands to support. She trusts that Brazil can conquer the long-awaited sixth world title and assures, jokingly, that if that happens she will immortalize the feat on her skin with a tattoo.
For her, each World Cup is not just a tournament: it is a life investment, a goal set with discipline and sacrifice, and a way to reaffirm her identity as a Brazilian.
