Meet Gabriel, a passionate Vasco da Gama fan from Rio de Janeiro. He’s been hosting travellers from around the world in Rio de Janeiro for home matches of his beloved club Vasco da Gama.

Read more about his story in this blog on why he loves Vasco so much and meeting like-minded fans from around the world.

Which club do you support and what is your best memory?

The club I support is Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, from Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. And the best memory I have is when I was eleven years old at São Januário Stadium with my father and I saw Romário striking his 1000′ goal in his career, in a match against Sport Clube Recife. It was an unforgettable experience.

What do you love about being a Homefans host?

The thing I really love about being a Homefans host is to have contact with people from different countries and different cultures and exchange experiences with them.

As I show how football works here in Rio, I also learn about their experiences in their countries. The connection with these guests has been amazing so far and really enjoy being a host for Vasco!

What do you like doing when you aren’t leading Homefans tours?

When I have freetime at the weekends I like to go to Samba, music concerts, art galleries and places with some cultural content. And always with my friends and family 🙂

What makes your city so special?

Rio de Janeiro is a very well-known city with a lot of history and touristic places and a unique culture. And here we have four clubs in the elite squad of Brazilian football, which makes football a very strong thing here.

What match people should try to see in your city?

If you want to see a football match in Rio de Janeiro, the match people definitely should see in Rio is: Vasco da Gama v Flamengo.

These are the clubs here with most of the supporters and is the biggest rivalry in Brazil, with supporters from all around the country.

Overall, the Vasco da Gama vs. Flamengo rivalry is a reflection of the deep-seated passion and love for football that runs through the city of Rio de Janeiro and the wider Brazilian football community. As such, these matches are always hotly anticipated, and the atmosphere in the stadiums is electric, making it one of the biggest games in Brazilian football!

Why should people watch your club?

People should see Vasco da Gama for many reasons, but in my opinion the main thing that distinguishes Vasco from the other clubs is his history. Vasco was founded by Portuguese migrants in the end of 19th century and was the first club to allow black players to play in football in Brazil, so the club is very linked with social and political issues.

São Januário, home of Vasco, is one of the most traditional and iconic football stadiums in Brazil, known for its unique architecture, rich history, and passionate fan base

Come and join a matchday experience with me in Rio de Janeiro to experience a home game of Vasco da Gama!