World Cup 2026: Brazil Welcomes Newborns in a Special Way During the Football Festival

The program was launched by the Rio de Janeiro State Health Department, aiming to make the moment of childbirth more meaningful for families and help reduce stress for patients amid the nationwide excitement of following the world's biggest football festival.

At the Estadual da Mãe Hospital in the city of Mesquita, newborns receive a certificate titled "My First World Cup," wear caps in Brazil's flag colors, and are given a special souvenir called "Tree of Life." This artwork is made from the imprint of the placenta, includes the baby's birth date, time, weight, and length, and is decorated with national flag colors for families to keep as a memento.

Not only in maternity wards, the Estadual Ricardo Cruz Hospital in the city of Nova Iguaçu also organizes puppet shows with characters wearing Brazil national team jerseys for pediatric patients and their families. According to the Rio de Janeiro State Health Department, these activities have positive therapeutic value, helping to improve morale, reduce stress during treatment, and strengthen the bond between patients, families, and the medical team.

Brazil has long combined major sports events with community activities in hospitals, schools, and public institutions to spread a spirit of unity, joy, and encourage comprehensive health care for the population.