This book aims to use soccer as a tool to understand key elements of Brazil's history from the overthrow of the Monarchy in 1889 to the 1930 Revolution that brought Getulio Vargas to power—the so-called First Republic. More specifically, this book will show that the advent of soccer and the reactions of the elites towards this sport can be understood primarily as a consequence of the desire of the new Republic—crucially influenced by racist attitudes integral to Social Darwinism—to be included within the white civilized world. Thus, racism during the early years of football in that country was influenced by the Eurocentric views of the world in racial terms and the Brazilian elites' desire to be accepted by the civilized white world.
