The Brazilian club that beat Japan in Tokyo — and defeated the USA just weeks after the first-ever World Cup
Botafogo has a remarkable history of matches against national teams across four continents. Relive the club's most memorable games around the world.
With the World Cup heating up, Botafogo finds itself at the centre of a conversation that goes well beyond the national team. Yes, O Glorioso is the club that has supplied the most players to World Cups — 48 call-ups throughout history, according to ge. But there is a lesser-told chapter: Botafogo has played against national teams from four different continents.
The first chapter dates back to 1930. Less than a month after the first World Cup in history, held in Uruguay, Botafogo hosted the United States in Rio de Janeiro — and won 2–1. The Americans had just made history by reaching the semi-finals of that tournament. Botafogo beat them anyway.
Eleven years later, in 1941, the club travelled to Mexico City and came back with another victory: 2–0 against Mexico during a tour of the country.
Europe also featured on the itinerary. In 1961, Botafogo embarked on their fourth tour of the continent — 14 matches, six wins, three draws and five defeats. Along the way, they fell to Austria 3–1 in Vienna and also faced regional select sides from Belgium and Bavaria.
Africa entered the picture in 1975. In February, Botafogo played two matches against Algeria: a goalless draw in Algiers and a 2–0 defeat in Oran.
And Asia? In 1983, at the Kirin Cup, Botafogo travelled to the National Stadium in Tokyo and defeated Japan 3–1 — the club's first-ever victory against an Asian national team. Botafogo finished that edition in second place.
The final chapter of this saga came in 1998, with a draw against Jamaica in Kingston.
Nearly 100 years of tours, four continents, national teams beaten and stories that most supporters don't even know exist. Golmetria's model gives Brazil a 5% chance of winning this World Cup — but the legacy of the club that has fed the national team more than any other was written long ago.