Brazilian soccer fans at the World Cup heed warning not to dress Rocky statue in team gear

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brazil fans who went the distance up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to pose with the Rocky statue left the fictional fighter just as they found him. Every Brazilian fan — in Philadelphia to watch their team play Haiti on Friday at the World Cup — who stopped for a snapshot or a selfie with the 9-foot-11, 1,300-pound beast left the statue dressed in only his bronze trunks and boots. No taking chances of getting hit by the Rocky curse. Yes, the Rocky statue, long a symbol of resilience, heart and the unbreakable bond between Rocky and the people of Philadelphia, has taken a few more hits of late (even in retirement). Visiting American sports fans have long learned the hard way that dressing the statue with colorful jerseys, scarfs, hats, anything found in your local Rally House, has only meant that team would suffer a knockout blow at the home of the local Philly team. Scoff all you want. The bad fortune stretched to soccer when Ecuador fans took over the Rocky steps and sang and danced and waved flags and ... dressed Rocky in a team jersey and tied the country's flag around the fictional fighter's neck. It didn't go well. Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in its first World Cup appearance in a dozen years. And there ain't gonna be no rematch. Brazil fans noticed the outcome and one of their fan groups, the Green and Yellow Movement, urged visitors to keep their clothing to themselves. "ANTENCAO TORCEDOR!" the Instagram post warned. Everyone is paying attention. The translated text read: "It's totally forbidden to put a Brazil shirt on the Rocky statue in Philly!!!!!" Even Visit PA cheekily got in on the fun and tried to warn foreigners that — just like Ivan Drago learned the hard way — Rocky was not to be messed with. "Countless football teams (as in American Football, not Fútbol — same curse, different sport) have all dressed the Rocky Statue in their colors and gone on to lose," the Instagram post said. "Ecuador dressed Rocky last weekend Coincidence? Sadly, history says no. "Philadelphia can't wait to host you! (but Rocky does not need your kit)" Brazilian fans paid heed to the warning Thursday, and scores of fans simply took the spot in front of the statue and raised their arms in triumph just as Rocky did after so many fights, and many, many movies. Hundreds of Brazilian fans swarmed the Rocky steps late in the day and left the statue bare. Rocky was roped off as if inside the ring and four "Rocky protectors" stood at each corner to keep enthusiastic fans at bay. "This is a moment in Brazil," said Lorival Guerreiro, who traveled from Limeira, Brazil. "They promote this place to celebrate before the game. The Brazilians come here to celebrate our team." When the bronze statue was left on the steps after filming the "Rocky" movies, the museum fought to have it removed. It was eventually relocated to South Philadelphia before returning to the bottom of the steps in 2006. The statue was a huge hit and became a point of pilgrimage for people around the world. According to the Philadelphia Visitor Center, about 4 million people visit the steps each year — rivaling the nearby Liberty Bell in annual foot traffic. The pop culture icon was recently moved to the top of the steps. Roberto De Freitas, a native of Porto Alegre who now lives in Florida and is attending his third World Cup, climbed the steps for a photoshoot with perhaps Philadelphia's most famous landmark. He was dressed in Brazil's colors — down to the green sneakers — and was set to attend Friday's game. He hoped five-time World Cup champion Brazil would take a page from Rocky's corner and win some more. "We have five titles," De Freitas said. "We are trying to get that sixth one." De Freitas had not yet heard of the Rocky curse but had no plans to tempt fate once he learned of the potential consequences. "That's what they said," he asked with a laugh. "I'm for sure not going to do it." For the record, De Freitas said "Rocky" was his favorite of all the movies in the series. The Rocky Shop at the base of the steps was loaded with tourists who snaked their way through fighter T-shirts and plush offerings of Mr. T's character, Clubber Lang. Peruvian sports journalist Jampool Cuadros Estrada tried on a Rocky robe as a cameraman followed him around the store for their latest World Cup report. Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian-born immigrants, has a bit of a recent connection with the South American country. The Philadelphia Eagles opened their Super Bowl championship season with a win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil in 2024. Facing pressure to win its first World Cup title since 2002, Brazil was outplayed early and needed Vinícius Júnior's 32nd-minute goal to get a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday. Brazil now needs to beware Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and is a noted heavy underdog — just like Rocky. "Brazil has the pressure. Haiti has the freedom," Haitian singer Wyclef Jean wrote on social media. "And sometimes freedom is the most dangerous thing on the pitch. I can't wait!!!!"