Global Chapter leaders for Brazil André Azevedo ’20 and Gabriel Pinto ’17 have built an incredibly close community of SOM and broader Yale alumni in their region. Most recently, in collaboration with the Yale Club of Brazil, they hosted the country’s first Yale Cup Brazil soccer tournament at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Yale’s team, which included alumni from SOM, Yale Law School, the Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Yale College faced Columbia University and INSEAD Business School for a spirited co-ed soccer tournament at the official stadium of Botafogo, one of Brazil’s leading soccer clubs and the reigning champion of Brazil and the Americas.
In a thrilling finale, the INSEAD Salamanders clinched the championship, edging out Yale with a 3-2 victory in the last match!
The event featured a professional commentator and DJ, customized uniforms, Yale Cup Brazil medals and a post-game social gathering in the club’s VIP stadium box open to all attending universities and guests.
The gathering was made possible by generous contributions of SOM alumni in leadership roles at Botafogo; through sponsorships from Multimarcas, Gruppi, Feel Good Tea, Pirajuba Whey Protein, Lobo de Rizzo, and David Teixeira de Azevedo law firms; and with funding from the Yale SOM Alumni Relations Office.
Given this year’s success, SOM’s Azevedo and Pinto are already planning to invite more universities to the 2026 tournament.
