Brazil, Haiti fans fill Philadelphia ahead of Friday's World Cup match

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Fans of both Haiti and Brazil's teams have arrived in the city of Philadelphia ahead of Friday night's match.

Before Brazil's team bus rolled in, their fans lined up along Sansom Street in Center City. They filled an entire city block as they waited for a chance to see their favorite players.

"We are crazy Brazil fans," said Helama Santos. "It is a dream. I can't believe it."

Brazil will take on Haiti at 8:30 p.m. Friday in South Philadelphia. It is the second match the city is hosting.

Brazil has won the World Cup five times - the most of any country.

Angelo Disprati didn't want to miss out, so he made the trip to Philly.

"It is really cool. I flew all the way from Abu Dhabi just to watch the game," he told Action News.

Other fans, like Roger Schmidt, are returning visitors to the City of Brotherly Love.

Schmidt said, "It's a great party. Everyone is having a lot of fun. I think it's an important moment for us as well because it's bringing people together."

After they filled a stretch in Center City, Brazil fans flooded the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Christopher Miranda, a Brazil fan living in Philadelphia, told Action News, "It's packed with Brazilians."

His mom, Danielly, said, "This being basically in our backyard and everything, since we live here, it's a dream come true."

Brazil fans guarded the Rocky statue as people celebrated on the steps. Despite warnings not to touch the iconic Philadelphia landmark, one fan decided to test out the Rocky curse by putting what appeared to be a Haiti jersey on the statue and then quickly taking it off.

At the bottom of the museum steps, Action News caught up with Djeffson Athis, a Haiti fan.

"It's an opportunity for me to come here and show Brazil, 'Hey, even if you guys love soccer, we love soccer too.' Tomorrow we have an opportunity to show the world what we can do,'" said Athis.

Fans of Haiti's team also gathered at the Graffiti Bar Thursday night to celebrate culture and soccer.

Jeff Maglorie, one of the organizers of the event, described it as, "a celebration of being part of a moment you didn't think would be possible, and you're like I want to capture it."

Haiti is returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. Fans who spoke with Action News say it is surreal that their team is taking on Brazil.

"Me, growing up, I was a Brazilian fan because my dad was a Brazilian fan," Willermine Taloute said. "So now that Haiti is playing in the World Cup, I'm obviously going to support my country. But it's a dream come true to see Haiti and see Brazil at the same time."