Mirassol

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Mirassol: Brazil, Brazil Serie A, and a ground called José Maria de Campos Maia. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• The calendar you inherit

  Brazil Serie A runs on a rhythm most European fans never see, heat, humidity and kick-off times that will reorganise your weekend. Adopting a club from Brazil is a genuine change of climate.

• Old enough to matter

  1925 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Something to defend

  The cabinet is not empty: Troféu Fernando Vendramine (1): 2003 and Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (1): 2024. Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.

• Close to the pitch

  José Maria de Campos Maia holds about 14,534. You can hear the defenders shouting at each other, which is the single best argument for lower-capacity football.