When Brazil beat Panama 4-0 in the women’s World Cup in Australia on Monday, they were reportedly cheered on by more than 11 million fans in front of TV screens at home.
The viewership numbers were boosted by Brazil’s government, which decided to allow public employees to shift their work schedules around the national team’s matches during the tournament.
The World Cup is hosted in Australia and New Zealand and runs through August 20. Government employees will have two hours after the final whistle of games involving the Seleção — or “selection,” as the country’s team is known — to turn up to work, Management Minister Esther Dweck said last week.