When Brazil's World Cup winners took over Los Gatos in 1994: 'They lit this town on fire'

When Brazil’s World Cup winners took over Los Gatos in 1994, the small California town became a surprise base for the squad as celebrations spilled into Main Street. At around 2 a.m., Mayor Randy Attaway was concerned about noise, but residents told The Athletic that nothing like the Brazilian takeover had ever happened there. Los Gatos, with a population of about 27,000, was chosen after Brazil’s federation president Ricardo Teixeira invited Attaway and his wife to visit Brazil. Attaway coordinated police protection, but reported no budget for transport and security, so volunteers and a borrowed bus via Santa Cruz Operation were arranged. Team manager Carlos Alberto Parreira even ordered Rasmussen onto a different bus. She later escorted the convoy to Santa Clara University, including a replacement when one bus broke down.