The ups and downs of Botafogo, John Textor's Brazilian laboratory

Having barely set foot in Los Angeles, California, John Textor, the majority shareholder of Botafogo and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) , among others, has traded his Rhône worries and his famous cowboy hat for a more discreet azure blue cap. The businessman from Missouri is ready to embark on a new competition: the Club World Cup . Since his remarkable arrival in the world of football four years ago, the president of the Eagle Football group has been touring stadiums, a fervent supporter of the many teams he manages. His relationship with the Carioca team, which began in January 2022 shortly after the club's return to the elite, is like him: unpredictable and passionate.

For their first participation in this expanded 32-team World Cup, reigning Brazilian champions Botafogo made a successful debut on June 15 with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders. But the winner of the 2024 Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – now faces a completely different challenge. On Thursday, June 19 at 6 p.m. (Friday at 3 a.m., metropolitan France time), at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, they will face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the recent winner of the "big-eared cup" and easy winners of Atlético Madrid (4-0) in their opening match.

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