Lula Gives Corinthians Jersey to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Ahead of UN Assembly

Cultural Exchange and the Legacy of Democracia Corinthiana

The sports-themed diplomatic gesture stemmed from Mamdani’s public admiration for Brazilian football history. In June, amid World Cup festivities in the New York metropolitan area, Mayor Mamdani published a video discussing the legacy of former Corinthians midfielder Sócrates and the Democracia Corinthiana movement of the early 1980s. The movement, led by Sócrates, Casagrande, and Wladimir Rodrigues, among other athletes, challenged the strict hierarchies of Brazilian football clubs during the nation’s military dictatorship by defending the participation of players in decisions on internal rules and team routines.

Capitalizing on that connection, President Lula brought a Corinthians jersey as a gift for the New York mayor. In return, Mamdani presented Lula with a New York City FC jersey, which competes in the Major League Soccer (MLS). The meeting took place at the official residence of Ambassador Sérgio Danese, Brazil’s representative to the UN.

Policy Discussions and Urban Governance

Beyond sports, the two leaders utilized the morning session to discuss progressive urban policies, social welfare initiatives, and democratic defense. The conversation touched on Brazil’s historical experience with participatory budgeting—an administrative innovation adopted in Porto Alegre in 1989 by Olívio Dutra during Workers’ Party (PT) leadership.

Mayor Mamdani shared New York City’s municipal strategies regarding subsidized public grocery stores aimed at people in need, an initiative expanded since the start of his mayoral term in January of this year. The leaders also discussed labor policies, including Brazil’s congressional proposals to reform work schedules and eliminate the six-day workweek (Escala 6×1), alongside strategies for combating misinformation and political extremism.

Recebi nesta segunda-feira (21) o prefeito de Nova York, Zohran Mamdani, no contexto da semana de Alto Nível da Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas. Na conversa, compartilhei a experiência brasileira em políticas públicas de inclusão social, governo digital, educação, habitação,… pic.twitter.com/qstnNrVdaL

— Lula (@LulaOficial) September 21, 2026

Diplomatic Schedule at the United Nations General Assembly

The meeting with Mamdani formed part of a diplomatic agenda for the Brazilian president ahead of the UN General Assembly opening on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Earlier on Monday, Lula met with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi to discuss agricultural trade, beef export quotas, and online betting regulations. Later in the evening, the Brazilian leader scheduled a meeting with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at 6:00 p.m. local time.

President Lula concluded his meeting with Mayor Mamdani by extending a formal invitation for the New York mayor to visit Brazil on a mutually agreed-upon date. Official proceedings continue Tuesday as world leaders convene at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.