Argentina fans camp out on Brazil’s beaches

Despite the World Cup having finished several weeks ago, thousands of Argentinian fans have opted to stay on in Brazil in order to avoid economic worries back home, reports the Daily Mail. Whilst the majority of the estimated 160,000 that travelled to Brazil returned to Argentina following their team’s 1-0 final defeat to Germany, many […]
by
sambafoot_admin
2014-07-26 17:58:00

Despite the World Cup having finished several weeks ago, thousands of Argentinian fans have opted to stay on in Brazil in order to avoid economic worries back home, reports the Daily Mail.

Whilst the majority of the estimated 160,000 that travelled to Brazil returned to Argentina following their team’s 1-0 final defeat to Germany, many have decided to start a new life in Brazil.

Argentina’s economy is struggling and unemployment rates are high. Argentines don’t need a visa, or even a passport, to visit Brazil.

Lucas Bazan Pontoni arrived in Rio de Janeiro, one of the cities most affected, almost a month ago and is surviving on meals from a soup kitchen. The 23-year-old explained his decision to stay.

“Brazil is amazing, and I want to stay It could be weeks or months or longer. I’m going to see where life and the road take me.”

The Argentines are not the only World Cup fans intent on remaining in Brazil. Last week a group of Ghanaian fans applied for asylum in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul having arrived on tourist visas to watch the World Cup.