Brazilian soccer fans at the World Cup heed warning not to dress Rocky statue in team gear

Brazilian World Cup fans largely heeded the warning not to dress the Rocky statue, leaving the 9-foot-11, 1,300-pound bronze figure dressed only in its trunks and boots. The Green and Yellow Movement posted that it was forbidden to place a Brazil shirt on Rocky at Philadelphia’s steps, urging visitors to skip clothing. In the same day, Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, marking Ecuador’s first World Cup appearance in 12 years. Security roped off the statue as four 'Rocky protectors' stood at each corner to keep fans at bay.

As the day progressed, Brazilian fans maintained restraint while crowds gathered, reflecting the day’s emphasis on the statue’s ceremonial status. The statue’s backstory includes a relocation to South Philadelphia after filming, before ultimately returning to the steps, framing the Rocky legacy in a modern World Cup context.