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The World Cup becomes a learning opportunity for vulnerable teenagers.
Published on 07/07/2026 - 16:51 | Updated
A teenager sheltered by SMAS enjoys playing the Olé game, organized by MultiRio Futebol Clube. Photo: Filipe Barboza / SMAS Teenagers aged 14 to 17, housed at the Raul Seixas Social Reintegration Unit (URS) in Praça da Bandeira, experienced the World Cup atmosphere during a visit to MultiRio, a public company of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall that combines technology, communication, and innovation in initiatives to support education. The boys learned about the MultiRio Futebol Clube platform, which uses the world's most popular sport as a learning strategy. It was a fun afternoon on Friday (July 3rd), with a screening of a mini-documentary, digital games, and a tour of recording studios and editing suites in Cidade Nova.
The activity was organized by the Bridges to the Future Project, from the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMAS), in partnership with MultiRio, linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Education (SME). The tour that the children took is the same one offered to students from public schools. After getting to know the MultiRio facilities, the boys watched the mini-documentary "Between Lines and Boots," produced by the municipal company. The film tells the stories of two young athletes from Vasco da Gama's youth teams and shows how education and sport relate to make a difference in their lives.
Also as part of the attractions at the MultiRio Football Club, teenagers tried out digital games related to the sport and the 2026 World Cup. The most popular game among the kids was Olé, in which participants build plays to score (or prevent) a goal using passes, dribbles, and saves. It's MultiRio's first multiplayer game. It uses the passion for football to stimulate logical reasoning, planning, problem-solving, attention, communication, and teamwork. There are printable versions of the game, in card format, and a digital version to play on mobile phones.
Goalscorer like Vini Jr.
GH, 16 years old, was the top scorer of the afternoon with two goals, and his team won 2-1, coming from behind.
"I felt like Vini Jr.," he joked. And there was even more excitement: after the visit, the boys received stickers with photos of them as if they were real players.
The Raul Seixas Social Reintegration Unit (URS) receives boys aged 12 to 17 who are in situations of social vulnerability and who have been removed from their families of origin by court order. During the mid-year school holidays, teenagers from other URSs will also participate in activities at MultiRio.
The Bridges to the Future Project establishes partnerships with public bodies and private initiatives to promote knowledge and a sense of belonging among the public served by SMAS, especially young people. The initiative takes those being cared for to tourist attractions in Rio, cinemas, theaters, museums, and places of historical and cultural value.
– Transforming the passion for football into an opportunity to learn and build new knowledge for those we support is a source of pride and celebration. The partnership with MultiRio is a great honor for us – said Guilherme Nanni, coordinator of Pontes para o Futuro.
