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Wallace Leite from San Francisco discovered himself in the midst of hundreds of Brazil’s most fanatic supporters through the nation’s 2022 World Cup round-of-16 beatdown of South Korea, main the followers’ chants together with his infectious drum rhythms.
Music and soccer go hand in hand in Brazil, Leite notes. “It makes the surroundings very glad and energetic,” he defined. “And all of us have enjoyable.”
After Brazil gained the sport, followers of all nations drawn by Leite’s music, costume and ever-present smile came to visit to share a hug, speak and nearly at all times take a selfie with him.
Brazilian Wallace Leite (left) smiles whereas taking part in his drum whereas main some followers in a chant after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite (proper) shares fun with a soccer fan after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite (heart) poses with some followers for {a photograph} after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite (left) talks with one other fan after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Followers of all nations dance, speak and take selfies with Wallace Leite. (Douglas Zimmerman)
“I need to go to all of the World Cups,” defined Leite, who had been drumming for seven hours straight by this level. “I wish to embrace folks. I wish to share with folks. I wish to study from folks. It’s my studying course of.”
When the gang thinned, Leite began strolling to the stadium concourse whereas drumming a Brazilian rhythm. Inside seconds, he as soon as once more discovered himself surrounded by followers dancing and celebrating Brazil’s victory.
“All people desires photos, photos, photos with him as a result of he’s at all times smiling, he’s good, he has a very good character,” added Mexico fan Francisco Javier Vargas Plata, one in all Leite’s roommates in Doha, Qatar. “And all people interviews him, from Brazil and Qatar.”
Native media, together with Qatari TV and Al Jazeera, have talked to Leite at this yr’s World Cup, and even FIFA, the event’s organizer, had a videographer crew documenting Leite on this present day. He additionally shares his journey on his Instagram, Wallace das Copas.
When he arrives at a World Cup recreation together with his drum, often called a Surdo, Leite’s power and fervour for soccer open the doorways, permitting him to fulfill followers of numerous backgrounds and nationalities collectively and bond over their shared love.
Wallace Leite is interviewed by media earlier than the Brazil-Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 28.
Douglas Zimmerman“For me, or Brazil, it’s not solely leisure. It’s a ardour embedded in our tradition. It’s an expression,” he defined. He famous that in America and plenty of different nations world wide, soccer will not be as a lot an built-in a part of the tradition, so Leite makes use of the openness and inclusiveness of his Brazilian tradition to attach with followers of different nations on the World Cup.
It’s been fairly a journey for Leite. Born in Brazil, he emigrated to the USA within the early Eighties, settling in San Francisco. He performs soccer recreationally within the metropolis and is a part of the Bay Space’s samba music group. Leite additionally led cheers for the San Francisco Deltas fan group of their one season of professional soccer in 2017.
Leite first skilled being a World Cup fan in 1986 as a Brazil supporter in Mexico. He couldn’t resist the chance to take an inexpensive flight from the USA to cheer for his dwelling nation.
Brazilian Wallace Leite (heart) performs his drum whereas main some followers in a chant after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite holds his drum earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite performs his drum exterior Stadium 974 earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite performs his drum within the stands after the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Wallace Leite together with his Brazilian drum. (Douglas Zimmerman)
After each recreation Brazil gained within the event, Leite headed with pals from the stadium into the city heart to rejoice. Each Mexican they met on the way in which would chant “Brazil” repeatedly.
“That heat that I felt, I had by no means felt earlier than,” Leite mentioned. “I felt like a celeb. After which folks would ask for autographs, and I’d say, ‘I’m not a participant. I play soccer, however I’m not knowledgeable.’ And they might say, ‘No, however you’re Brazilian. It’s sufficient for us, so right here is the crimson carpet.’ They handled us so effectively.”
After his life-changing expertise in 1986, Leite has attended each successive World Cup, sharing the enjoyment the “stunning recreation” has delivered to his life and the way it has formed his view of the world.
Wallace Leite, left, poses with a Brazil fan after the Brazil-Switzerland World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 28.
Douglas Zimmerman“I went for the sport, however once I acquired there, I noticed extra than simply the sport,” Leite famous. “I discovered that the World Cup can be a chance to take this as a reference for all times by figuring out different cultures and exchanging our cultures. Possibly they’ll study from me, and I can study from them.”
For this yr’s World Cup, Brazil recreation days begin for Leite hours earlier than kickoff at his shared residence close to downtown Doha, the place Brazilian flags hold in every single place.
After he places on an outfit within the colours of the nation’s flag, one other roommate, Lucivaldo Costa, of Brazil, paints Leite’s face inexperienced and yellow. He then writes “HEXA” on Leite’s brow to acknowledge the Brazil nationwide workforce’s try to win its sixth World Cup title this yr.
Brazilian Wallace Leite will get prepared earlier than Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation at his residence in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Lucivaldo Costa paints the phrases “Hex” to put on Brazilian Wallace Leite brow whereas paintiung his face at their residence earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
An image on Brazilian Wallace Leite’s telephone reveals how he desires his face paint to be drawn earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite has his face painted by roommate Lucivaldo Costa earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Wallace Leite prepares for a Brazil World Cup recreation with the assistance of roommate Lucivaldo Costa. (Douglas Zimmerman)
After stopping and consuming a full meal exterior the residence, Leite and Costa journey by Doha’s subway system to the workforce’s group-stage recreation towards Switzerland.
Outdoors the stadium, Leite meets up with a number of shut pals, and their assortment of musical devices accompanies Leite’s pregame drumming. Their power, Brazilian-themed beats and infectious pleasure convey an prompt social gathering vibe and crowds wherever they go.
Leite likes to return to every World Cup nation just a few weeks earlier than the occasion begins to get a really feel for the nation and its folks.
Wallace Leite, proper, rides the Doha Metro to Stadium 974 earlier than the Brazil-Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 28.
Douglas Zimmerman“This is a chance: the primary World Cup in an Arab nation. I’ve acquired to know this tradition,” Leite defined. “Why do they assume the way in which they assume?”
He commissioned a conventional Arabic outfit he designed with the colours and design of the Brazilian flag. It was his method to join nonverbally with followers and locals alike.
“[What] I attempt to convey to all of the World Cups is a bit of our tradition,” he mentioned. “Principally, humanity is similar, however now we have these little variations. Typically now we have to know to develop into one. The World Cup is a chance to study all this earlier than a ball rolls.”
Brazilian Wallace Leite (heart) poses with two soccer followers exterior Stadium 974 earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
A stadium employee (left) congratulates Brazilian Wallace Leite after the Brazil defeated Switzerland in a World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Three law enforcement officials pose for {a photograph} with Brazilian Wallace Leite after the Brazil and South Korea World Cup recreation at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Brazilian Wallace Leite (heart) and Lucivaldo Costa (second from left) exit the Doha Metro and stroll to Stadium 974 earlier than the Brazil and Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar on November 28, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman
Wallace Leite on the World Cup. ( (Douglas Zimmerman)
This yr’s World Cup is essentially the most compact ever. Followers have been in a position to keep in a single metropolis and attend a number of video games in in the future with no stadiums greater than an hour and a half aside. Leite has met extra folks from world wide at this yr’s occasion than at any earlier World Cup.
And Leite’s drumbeats and beaming smile will proceed to permit him to fulfill much more folks and study and develop extra personally.
“I like what I do, and I get a lot particular power from the folks round me,” he mentioned. “That’s what I need to do for all times.”
Lucivaldo Costa, left, helps carry Wallace Leite’s drum to the Doha Metro earlier than the Brazil-Switzerland World Cup recreation in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 28.
Douglas Zimmerman
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