SAO PAULO: Suddenly, it felt like being in Karachi.

At every Brazilian goal, fireworks and firecrackers filled up the night sky in Sao Paulo, lighting it up noisily.

It’s just like how Pakistan reacts to each six or a wicket during a big cricket match.

Although here there is no aerial firing that follows when Pakistan win, here they celebrate beating their drums loudly.

Loud enough to split your eardrums just like aerial firing does in Pakistan.

Brazil is as passionate about its football like Pakistan is about its cricket. And passion and emotion was at its peak when Brazil faced Cameroon in their final Group ‘B’ game of the World Cup in Brasilia on Monday.

The hosts were virtually through but their 4-1 victory saw them top the group and they now face Chile in the round-of-16.

And Sao Paulo — Brazil’s biggest city — celebrated their victory into the night just like Karachi does whenever Pakistan win.

But of course they’re saving some of their energy for the big party that they hope will come with Brazil winning the World Cup on July 13.

Nevertheless, people in Sao Paulo were in vibrant mood following their triumph — secured by Neymar’s brace — against Cameroon.

Neymar is their poster-boy for this World Cup and he might as well remain their cult figure for long.

Just like Shahid Afridi has been for Pakistan’s cricket fans for ages.

The Sao Paulo authorities has been fearing a huge traffic congestion like the one which brought South America’s biggest city to a near halt as fans home rushed to watch Brazil playing Mexico in their second group game last Tuesday.

They had called for a holiday on Monday but Sao Paulo’s City Council refused.

Their concern was that thousands of Netherlands and Chile fans who had gathered in the city for their final group game at the Arena Corinthians would add to the transport chaos as that match was scheduled to end at 3:00pm local time, two hours before kick-off in Brasilia.

Thankfully, though, the city’s mayor said that municipal civil servants and students at the city’s public schools will have the day off Monday.

Banks, stores and factories also agreed to close some two hours early to give employees time to get home on time for the game and avoid major traffic snarls.

And when Brazil won, some fans came out their cars to celebrate the victory with the country’s flag perched on top of their cars.

Fans thronged bars and cafes, watching the game tapping their tables and drinking beer.

And when Neymar scored the first goal, they erupted. Just like Karachi does when Afridi hits a six.

Their celebrations were cut short when Joel Matip levelled for Cameroon. Just like Karachi becomes muted once its favourite son holes it out to the deep.

But three goals afterwards and it was party-time for Paulistas.

Hours before Brazil played the high-profile World Cup opener against Croatia on June 12, the build-up was marred by anti-government protestors near the Arena Corinthians.

This time around, Sao Paulo was celebrating.

“Of course, when Brazil wins, it’s time to party,” said one of the dancing fans in downtown Sao Paulo.

Protestors had been angry about the $11bn being spent on hosting the World Cup, saying that money should’ve been spent on public service infrastructure instead.

At one of the walls on the banks of the drainage channel which runs adjacent to the Arena Corinthians, a message in white paint says ‘FIFA GO HOME’.

If Brazil keep winning, they might as well scrape it off.

As far as Karachi is concerned, a part of Pakistan’s biggest city would also have celebrated.

And that area is Lyari, a town which is commonly known as mini-Brazil because of its love for football.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2014