Every four years, São Paulo’s thousands of street vendors – who usually weave through traffic selling anything from water to cell phone chargers to fly swatters – invest in much more lucrative merchandise: World Cup paraphernalia. During this month, Brazil’s national pride is on fierce display, and cars, apartment windows, and sidewalks are decked out in the country’s national colors of green and yellow. The enthusiasm is a boon for the street vendors, who peddle the decorations. But their fortunes are inextricably linked to the success of their team. I spent an afternoon at a traffic light in São Paulo for Al Jazeera English and heard Misael Batista’s story.
This video originally appeared on Al Jazeera English’s television channel.