A World Cup Guide for Muslim Fans

Brazil’s Federation of Muslims Associations in Brazil (Fambras) published a World Cup guide for Muslim fans at the end of May. Six out of  32 national teams taking part in the tournament come from countries where Islam is the majority religion, or where a large proportion of the population are Muslim: Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Fans from these countries will also be traveling to Brazil, and many of them will be practicing Muslims. So, as part of its preparations for the World Cup, Brazil has had to make sure its Muslim visitors will be accommodated and made to feel welcome.

The publication provides addresses of mosques and Islamic centers in each Brazilian city hosting World Cup games, including opening times and scheduled times for prayer. “The federation has been working consistently for people to find out more about Islam in the right way, through peace and its participation in Brazilian society,” said Fambras vice president Ali Hussein El Zoghbi. “This event provides great visibility and will play host to delegations from countries where the majority of the population is Muslim. We're making the most to publicize Islam through this project".

In addition to the lists of mosques and centers in Brazil’s 12 World Cup host cities, the guide provides contact information for embassies and consulates of countries where Islam is the predominant religion. It also lists places of interest for Muslim visitors and provides solutions to common problems Muslims might face.

The Fambras guide is not only for Muslims: it provides useful information for anyone interested in Brazil’s Muslim society and its history. It champions a project called “Get to know Islam,” which, the guide says, aims to “demystify distortions” and misunderstandings about Islam, with the help of hundreds of Brazilian Muslims who have volunteered their services during the World Cup.

The federation has also commissioned an app featuring a compass so that visitors know where Mecca is and so in which direction to pray. A free telephone service (0800 718 6245) has also been provided in English and Arabic, designed to answer any questions Muslim visitors may have. The Fambras site also features recent articles published in the international press about the halal diet.

Fambras is working hard to ensure Muslim visitors enjoy their time in Brazil, says Zoghbi. “Being good hosts is very much part of Muslim culture, particularly those from Arabic countries. And this is something that the Brazilian people can identify with. This similarity helps a lot", he says.

Click here to download the guide.