It is impossible to walk around Vyasarpadi, popularly known as the ‘mini Brazil of Chennai’, without running into a footballer.Football is not just another sport here. It is personal and, as Jayaseelan, a 44 year-old autorickshaw driver and ardent fan of former Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos, puts it, “Football is life itself.”As Spain and Argentina get set to face off in the final chapter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Vyasarpadi comes alive with conversations surrounding the sport. Uma Shankar, from the neighbourhood, who played in the Kerala Super League strongly backs Spain because he believes in supporting young players in the sport. “I think we should encourage and support young talents like Lamine Yamal for competing against legends like Messi,” he says. Meanwhile, Nandha Kumar, who played for India in the 2023 Intercontinental Cup supports Argentina for one reason alone — Lionel Messi.
It is impossible to walk around Vyasarpadi, popularly known as the ‘mini Brazil of Chennai’, without running into a footballer.
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Liza Vennilla, a former Tamil Nadu football referee is also rooting for Argentina for the same reason. “Initially I was supporting Portugal, then Brazil, but both teams got knocked out. Now, I watch the FIFA World Cup for Messi,” she says, adding that, as a fan, she enjoys the game regardless of who wins or loses.In Vyasarpadi, football is a tradition passed down from one generation to the next, says Liza. She took up the sport after seeing her father play and was one of only two women who qualified as referees from the area. Today, her three-year-old daughter is training to be a footballer.The 2022 World Cup victory turned many fans in the neighbourhood into Argentina supporters. Residents recall coming together as a community and watching the finals on a big screen. This year too arrangements are being made for a community screening. “We don’t support any specific team during the finals. We celebrate regardless of who wins,” says Jayaseelan, adding that his biggest dream is to see India play in the World Cup.Asked why football, rather than other sports, became this popular in Vyasarpadi, Jayaseelan points to the poor socio-economic conditions of families in the area. “Unlike cricket or other sports which require expensive equipment, all this sport requires is a ball.”However, affordability alone does not explain the large number of national and international football players from Vyasarpadi.
