🏟️ Quiet refuges

Welcome back to the Brazil Sports newsletter! For our first issue of 2025, reporter Lucas Berti brings an insightful story about autistic football fans in Brazil, and how clubs are adapting their facilities to accommodate these supporters.

We will resume normal service as of next week, but in the meantime if you have any questions or suggestions for this newsletter, you can reach us at [email protected]

In Brazil’s football stadiums, autistic fans are more than welcome

Few experiences better capture the Brazilian spirit than cheering for one’s favorite football club, passionately joining the crowd's roar on packed stadium stands.

But engaging in this national pastime presents unique challenges for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The sensory overload of a football stadium — crowds, deafening noise, and overwhelming sights and smells — can make the experience deeply unsettling for autistic fans, potentially triggering emotional dysregulation, a common struggle for those with ASD.

The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics estimates that 2 million Brazilians are autistic, while academic studies suggest that as many as 3 million may fall somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but experts say these figures are likely underreported. Applying prevalence rates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brazil’s autistic population could be closer to 6 million.

And many of them, no doubt, are football fans.

Recognizing these barriers, fans and clubs in Brazil’s top football leagues are stepping up to accommodate their supporters with ASD. Initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion have sparked a national conversation about how to make football stadiums accessible for individuals with autism. 

These efforts acknowledge the spectrum’s diverse social and sensory challenges, aiming to ensure that all fans, regardless of their needs, can experience the magic of Brazil’s beloved game.

Inclusion as a sport

One of the trailblazers in making Brazilian football more inclusive is Autistas Alvinegros (Black and White Autistics), a grassroots supporters movement founded in 2022 by autistic fans of major club Corinthians. Based in São Paulo, Corinthians boasts Brazil’s second-largest fanbase, with an estimated 30 million supporters spread across the country, trailing only the Rio de Janeiro-based Flamengo.

Operating under the motto “respect, empathy and inclusion,” Autistas Alvinegros has united autistic fans and their families for the last two seasons. Their mission is to champion inclusion, encourage respect, and ensure that autistic individuals can fully participate in football culture. 

The group advocates for what they call “the proper appropriation of the football territory without prejudice,” using their platform to share accurate information about autism, treatments and social adaptation.

Though the movement began independently of the club, Corinthians’ Neo Química Arena became the first football stadium in Brazil to establish a dedicated sensory room for autistic fans. Designed to be noise-free and equipped with soft lighting and interactive facilities, the space allows parents and caregivers to relax while autistic children can engage in a supportive environment.

The idea took root after a pivotal moment in 2019, when a mother attending a match sought help for her autistic child, who was experiencing an acute dysregulation crisis. The club’s staff stepped in, offering the child a calmer environment. In response, Corinthians formalized the initiative, creating an ASD-friendly sector. 

Today, autistic fans and their caregivers can book free tickets in advance to access the sensory room.

Inspiration surpasses rivalry

These efforts have inspired similar initiatives across Brazilian football. Shortly after the launch of Autistas Alvinegros, Corinthians’s bitter rivals Palmeiras saw its fanbase establish Autistas Alviverdes (Green and White Autistics). 

Founded in 2022, the group collaborates with its rivals at Corinthians, hosting joint events and lectures. In June 2024, Palmeiras’ Allianz Parque stadium debuted its own sensory room, complete with a direct view of the pitch, offering a safe and inclusive match-day experience. The space also accommodates individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Language Development Disorder (LDD), and Down Syndrome, staffed by trained professionals.

Other clubs are following suit. Flamengo began distributing earmuffs at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in 2023 to help autistic fans manage the overwhelming noise. Sport Recife, a club in Brazil’s Northeast, will go a step further by building an autism care clinic on its grounds — the first such facility housed within a football club’s headquarters.

Despite the progress, advocates emphasize that more needs to be done. 

“While there’s been a noticeable rise in inclusive actions nationwide, we still have a long way to go,” Barbara Luise, director of Autistas Alviverdes tells The Brazilian Report. 

She stresses the importance of listening to the autistic community and implementing structural changes. “Clubs must conduct research, establish inclusive ombudsman offices, and launch ongoing campaigns — not just one-off events. It’s a long-term process,” she says.