How sports fans’ rituals spark shared emotions

What is it about?

Before a major football match in Brazil, thousands of fans take part in a powerful ritual called the Rua de Fogo, or “Street of Fire.” They light flares, wave flags, and chant in unison to welcome the team bus. Using wearable heart rate monitors to track fans’ emotional responses throughout the day, we found that the pregame ritual triggered even greater emotional alignment among fans than the game itself. This synchrony was so strong it even affected the team bus driver, who wasn’t participating in the ritual. Our findings show how rituals—whether in sports, religion, or politics—can foster deep feelings of unity and shared identity by aligning people’s emotions in real time.

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Photo by Alexandre Brondino on Unsplash

Photo by Alexandre Brondino on Unsplash

Why is it important?

While sports games can create excitement, it is the communal rituals surrounding them that spark emotional unity. This challenges the idea that the game is the central driver of fan bonding. By focusing on peripheral events like the Rua de Fogo, we reveal how structured collective actions—often overlooked—play a key role in bringing people together. These insights apply far beyond sports: they help explain how concerts, protests, and religious gatherings create social bonds. Understanding these dynamics can help us design better experiences that foster connection and cohesion in an increasingly fragmented world.

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