Mayor of New York quotes Sócrates and Democracia Corinthiana in speech about the World Cup
- By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial
The mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, mentioned Corinthians and the idol Sócrates during an edition of the program "The Morning Pitch", published on the social networks of the North American city hall. The speech took place last Friday (12), during a broadcast focused on preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will have New York as one of the tournament's venues.
The program presented by the mayor brings together information about traffic, weather and events in the city, but, in this edition, Mamdani took advantage of the context of the global competition to talk about the relationship between football, society and historical movements.
Photo: Reproduction / X (former twitter)
During his speech, the politician highlighted the trajectory of Sócrates, a former Corinthians midfielder between 1978 and 1984, remembered not only for his performance on the field, but also for his participation in Democracia Corinthiana, a movement created by the club during the period of the Brazilian military dictatorship.
Mamdani highlighted that the player became a symbol of resistance by defending democratic ideas at a time marked by political repression in Brazil.
"I've been thinking lately about Sócrates, not the ancient Greek philosopher, but the Brazilian midfield maestro. Sócrates played for Brazil in the 1970s and 80s, including the 1982 World Cup, where he captained the team. These were difficult years in Brazil. A repressive military junta ruled the country, imposing its rule by force."
Afterwards, the mayor of New York recalled the creation of Democracia Corinthiana, a movement that involved players, coaching staff and club employees in a model of collective participation in internal decisions.
According to Mamdani, the initiative represented an attempt to put democratic values into practice within football, allowing different members of Corinthians to participate in the club's choices.
"At Corinthians, the club he captained, Sócrates and his teammates participated in what ordinary Brazilians dreamed of: democracy. They began an experiment in self-government called Democracia Corinthiana. Whether you were the star center forward or worked in the laundry, you had a vote."
The mayor also cited one of the most striking moments of Sócrates' relationship with the political issues of the period: the use of protest messages on the shirts worn by Corinthians during matches.
Mamdani recalled the phrase "I want to vote for president", displayed by players amid the movement for direct elections in Brazil.
"And while the military dictatorship tortured and murdered its citizens, Sócrates led the players onto the field, wearing jackets with the words 'I want to vote for president' on the back."
In the final part of the speech, the mayor related the history of football with the social impact of sport around the world, highlighting the sport's ability to create connections between different people.
"As we prepare to celebrate the World Cup here in New York, we are celebrating a sport that has given millions of people around the world, so many poor and forgotten, a sense of belonging, a connection with their neighbor, a feeling of shared solidarity. Football has created movements, helped topple dictators, and for 90 minutes at a time, not only allowed us to forget our problems, but find ways to overcome them. What a beautiful game."
The tribute takes place during the preparation period for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The opening match of the competition in New York involves Brazil and Morocco, scheduled for this Saturday (13th), at 7pm (Brasília time).
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Source: Timao Central