Content creator Guilherme Martin Nunes will have the mission of crossing the continent when leaving Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, heading to New York, in the USA, to watch Brazil’s games at the 2026 World Cup. The chosen means of transport is his 1971 blue Beetle.
The trip will begin on February 16th and is expected to end at the end of April or beginning of May. Approximately 14 thousand kilometers will be driven. The average consumption of a Beetle on the road is 10 kilometers per liter, so around 1400 liters of gasoline will be used for the journey to the first city in the USA, the equivalent of more than 34 full tanks.
“The idea came last year. I had already traveled practically all over America following Grêmio’s games. And as I always liked Grêmio, I thought: – Is it possible to go there in a VW Beetle?”, explained the influencer who has the Grêmio shield printed on the car. Guilherme follows Tricolor in State Championship games throughout Rio Grande do Sul and also traveled with the team to cities in the country, in Brasileirão games, and, in 2024, throughout Latin America in Grêmio’s campaign in the Libertadores.
Guilherme turned his passion into a profession and today he is an influencer. He paraphrased Grêmio’s anthem by calling his Instagram page “we will go to Fucs”. The hymn composed by Lupicínio Rodrigues says “even on foot we will go whatever comes our way”.
This time, the journey is much longer. “The total will be 14,000 km. I estimated it would take about three months to arrive. That’s if the Beetle doesn’t have any problems, but it’s inevitable that there will be problems. It’s a long distance, there are places with deserts that are hot, require the Beetle. The forecast is to arrive at the end of April, beginning of May”, he commented. If he has enough time, he will go straight to Miami, but if it gets close to the date of the team’s debut, on June 13th against Morocco, he will go straight to New York. Afterwards, the trip continues towards Philadelphia and Miami for games against Scotland and Haiti.
Guilherme just considers that, if Brazil plays in Mexico, Canada or in cities on the west coast, he will park the Beetle and travel by plane, but the return to Brazil will be by land.
Millionaire tour
“I imagine I’m going to spend around R$100,000. The most expensive part of the trip will be the crossing between Colombia and Panama. Just the container to cross costs around 2,500 dollars, that is, round trip, just for that part, I’m going to spend R$30,000. Plus gasoline, food. There are places where I won’t be able to sleep in a tent, or in the Beetle. I’ll have to pay for accommodation. I’m not even counting the tickets. I haven’t bought them yet, I’m going to travel without the tickets,” said the influencer.
Guilherme organized all the documentation for the trip, including visas for him, and requirements for the Beetle’s entry into foreign territories.
Everything is thought out or adapted. “I’m going to take tool kits, parts, material to repair tires… everything in reserve for replacement. I’m taking warm and cold clothes, a barbecue, a stove, a car refrigerator and I’m going to try to adapt a bed inside the Beetle”, he explains.
Many trips
Guilherme had a 1974 Beetle 1500 that he used on his first trips since 2021. His friend accompanied Grêmio in several matches. He traveled in Rio Grande do Sul and even stopped in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2024, the influencer followed the team in the Copa Libertadores. The first trip lasted 8 days until arriving in La Paz, Bolivia. “More than 4,100 meters of altitude, Beetle losing power on the way up, flat tire in the middle of the salt desert. A very incredible adventure. I enjoyed it and, in 2024, I passed through the Andes Mountains with the Beetle catching snow, temperatures of minus 9 degrees”, he recalls.
During the journey, he passed through Argentina and, when he arrived in Uruguay, his car was seized. That didn’t stop him, as he ended up buying the blue 1971 vehicle that he will use to go to the World Cup. In addition to Brazil, he has also passed through Paraguay and Peru with the car.
Cheerleader
Wherever it goes, the car has become a favorite among Grêmio fans. “Where it ends up is impressive. Everyone comes around the Beetle, wants to take a photo and talk. It’s become a reference. Many people say that ‘you represent us’, but I’m just a fan who has the opportunity to do that.”
Despite its fame, the vehicle does not yet have a name, as is traditional for “fusqueiros” when naming their cars. “I even accept the creation staff to help me with the names”, suggests Guilherme.
Brazil’s World Cup games
Group C
1st round
- Brazil x Morocco – June 13th (Saturday) – 7pm – MetLife Stadium, in New York/New Jersey
- Haiti x Scotland – June 13 (Saturday) – 10pm – Gillette Stadium, Boston
2nd round
- Scotland x Morocco – June 19 (Friday) – 7pm – Gillette Stadium, Boston
- Brazil x Haiti – June 19 (Friday) – 9pm – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
3rd round
- Scotland x Brazil – June 24th (Wednesday) – 7pm – Hard Rock Stadium, in Miamo
- Morocco x Haiti – June 24 (Wednesday) – 7pm – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
