John Textor dedicates Botafogo’s Club World Cup win over PSG to Brazil

Textor hails Brazil's football talent after historic Botafogo victory
Botafogo secured a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, with club investor John Textor dedicating the landmark win to the people of Brazil. The win places Botafogo at the top of Group B with six points and marks the first time since 2012 that a Brazilian club has defeated a European team in the tournament.

John Textor, the American businessman and majority shareholder in Botafogo’s SAF, joined the post-match celebrations on the field. In a televised interview with CazéTV, he hugged commentator Rafael and players Cuiabano and Vitinho before delivering his message of national pride.


Also read: Igor Jesus stars as Botafogo stun Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Club World Cup

"That's all about Brazil. Brazil can play football. Young people like this [pointing to Vitinho] go there, play at another level, learn to play in other ways, but just like the Europeans we also have structure, organization. Brazil can also play football. I hope every Brazilian is proud of Botafogo today," Textor said.

Club World Cup win revives Brazilian football legacy
The 1-0 result against PSG, current Champions League title holders, comes exactly 30 years after Brazil's 1994 FIFA World Cup triumph at the same venue. Botafogo’s win reignited national pride in Brazil’s football development systems, with Textor underscoring the nation's potential to compete internationally at the club level.

Shortly after the match, while still on the pitch, Textor spoke to Rede Globo during a video call and repeated his sentiment.

"I love you, Brazil. This is for all of Brazil. We can play football in Brazil," he said.

This performance places Botafogo in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. With two wins in the group, the club now leads Group B, which includes other top clubs from Europe and North America.

Also read: PSG vs Botafogo: how to watch, match time, lineups for Club World Cup clash

Botafogo becomes first Brazilian club to defeat European side since 2012
The result makes Botafogo the first Brazilian side to defeat a European club in the FIFA Club World Cup since Corinthians beat Chelsea in the 2012 final. It also reinforces Brazil’s standing in global football, particularly amid criticism that the nation’s domestic infrastructure lags behind Europe’s elite leagues.

For Textor, the match served as a broader statement on the capabilities of Brazilian football institutions and talent development pipelines.

John Textor, Botafogo’s majority shareholder, dedicated the team’s 1-0 win over PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup to the Brazilian people. The result marks the first Brazilian victory over a European club in the tournament since 2012. Textor emphasized Brazil’s footballing structure, talent, and organizational capability in post-match comments

John Textor dedicates Botafogo’s Club World Cup win over PSG to Brazil


Botafogo’s success on the international stage may also influence future discussions around investment, player retention, and competitiveness in Brazil’s top-flight football. The victory over PSG sends a clear message that Brazilian clubs can still compete, and succeed against the world’s most renowned football institutions.