Once Sport in Brazil: A First Journey Through Brazilian Football
October 8, 2026
September marked a new chapter for Once Sport as we travelled to Brazil for the first time, joining CONFUT Sudamericana in Rio de Janeiro and meeting football professionals across clubs, analysis departments and the wider football industry.
From 8 to 10 September, we were at the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro for CONFUT Sudamericana, bringing together leaders, brands, clubs and professionals from across the South American football industry. For Once Sport, it was an opportunity to discover the Brazilian market, meet existing clients, connect with new professionals and explore ideas for future collaborations.
The experience also extended beyond the conference, with visits to some of Rio’s most iconic football institutions and meetings at Fluminense.
Connecting With the Brazilian Football Industry
CONFUT brought together people working across almost every area of football, creating three days of conversations around technology, performance, business and the future of the game.
For Once Sport, it was a valuable opportunity to introduce our solutions to new professionals while also meeting people who already use our products.
One of them was Caio Freitas, a long-time Once Sport Analyser user and analyst at Boavista-RJ. Meeting Caio in person allowed us to talk about his experience with the platform, understand more about his daily work and exchange ideas about how we can continue supporting him.
The conversations also went beyond existing relationships. We discussed new strategies, potential partnership ideas and different ways to build stronger bonds between Once Sport, clubs and professionals in Brazil.
Experiencing Rio’s Football Culture
CONFUT was not limited to conversations inside the conference. As part of the event, we also had the chance to step inside some of Rio’s most recognisable football institutions.
We visited the Flamengo Museum, the Maracanã, and Botafogo’s stadium. Walking into the Maracanã, the legendary stadium shared by Flamengo and Fluminense, was a particular highlight. Few stadiums carry the same weight in football, and seeing the ground first-hand brought a different perspective to the history and scale of the Brazilian game.
The visits also gave us a closer look at the identity of the clubs behind the names. From Flamengo’s history and traditions to Botafogo and the Maracanã, each stop showed a different side of Rio’s football scene and added another layer to the experience of being in Brazil.
Understanding Analysis From the Women’s Game
On Friday, we continued the trip with a visit to Fluminense, where we met Lucas Nascimento, analyst of the club’s women’s team.
After visiting the facilities, we discussed the team’s approach to video analysis and the role of the analyst in supporting the coaching staff, from preparing information to communicating ideas to the players.
The conversation also gave us the chance to exchange ideas about how Once Sport can support their work, discuss new strategies and explore potential opportunities to work together in the future.
Meeting analysts directly in their working environment gives us a much clearer understanding of how they use video in their daily routines and what they need from their tools.
Inside Xerém, Fluminense’s Home of Player Development
Later that day, we met Rodrigo Pinheiro and visited Xerém, home to Fluminense’s youth development operation.
The Centro de Treinamento Vale das Laranjeiras is where the club develops players across its youth categories, with the facilities and departments built around their long-term progression.
It is also an environment that has played a role in the development of players who reached the highest levels of football, including Marcelo and Thiago Silva.
Walking through Xerém and learning more about Fluminense’s methodology provided an interesting look at the processes behind player development and the different ways analysis can support coaches and players throughout that journey.
It was another opportunity to discuss how technology can fit into these environments, from reviewing performances and identifying key moments to helping coaches communicate their ideas more clearly.
Building Stronger Relationships
A major part of the Brazil trip was the opportunity to spend time with the people behind the football operations we work with.
From reconnecting with Caio at CONFUT to meeting Lucas and Rodrigo at Fluminense, the conversations allowed us to better understand different workflows while sharing ideas about the future.
They also gave us space to discuss new strategies and partnership opportunities, while strengthening the relationships between Once Sport and the professionals and organisations we already work with.
For us, these face-to-face conversations are an important part of building products and partnerships around the reality of football.
Looking Ahead
Our first trip to Brazil gave Once Sport the opportunity to experience the country's football environment first-hand, meet professionals from across the industry and establish new connections.
From CONFUT Sudamericana to Fluminense and Xerém, every conversation added something different to our understanding of the market and the people working within it.
There are many more conversations to continue and opportunities to explore, and we look forward to building on this first experience in Brazil.
