Brazilian anthem is voted the most beautiful of the World Cup by the NY Times - News Room USA

The New York Times chose the Brazilian National Anthem the most beautiful among the 48 countries participating in the 2026 World Cup. The article, published this Friday (19) and written by journalist Tim Spiers, brings tones of music criticism with hints of humor.

The publication mainly highlights the “glorious 28-second orchestral intro” of our national anthem.

It lasts almost two minutes and still, it’s not enough. It’s a lot of words sung very quickly, mostly about not fearing battle, about a fearless colossus and a beloved land, but the highlight is undoubtedly the glorious 28-second orchestral introduction. One of the best hymns in the world.

Amid praise, the text still remembers the playing of the National Anthem at the 2014 World Cupwhen fans and players sang each verse at the top of their lungs. However, after the 7-1 defeat to Germany, the moment lost its luster and gained tones of despair in the Brazilian sports press.

“For the match against Morocco, there wasn’t the crying and melodrama that we saw before the semi-final, at home, in 2014, but it was probably better that way”, he joked.

Interestingly, the last place in the NY Times ranking is precisely the anthem of EnglandGod Save the King. England is the country where the newspaper’s sports section, The Athletic, is based. “It’s terrible. The song drags unforgivably and the lyrics, unlike every other hymn on this list, are about an old man.”

The five most beautiful anthems of the countries participating in the World Cup, according to the newspaper, are, in order: Brazil, France, Colombia, Portugal and Scotland.

Anthem of Brazil

The Brazilian National Anthem was composed by Francisco Manoel da Silva in April 1831, initially without lyrics.

“Once the Republic was proclaimed, a competition was called to replace this anthem with another, suitable for the new political organization. However, popular attachment to the melody of the old anthem left no alternative to its maintenance”, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on its official page.

The verses, composed by Osório Duque Estrada, were officially included on September 6, 1922.