The load on Brazil’s power grid decreased to 14.4% during the national team’s matches in the first stage of the 2026 World Cup, as the population paused their usual activities to watch the games. This was reported on Thursday, June 25, by the National Electric System Operator (ONS).
Significant fluctuations in power load during football matches in Brazil are closely monitored by ONS, given the challenge of maintaining the stability of the electrical system. Energy demand typically drops before matches begin, sharply increases during halftime — when fans seek food and drinks, using household appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves — and then declines again with the resumption of play.
Record fluctuations during matches
In this World Cup, the largest change in load was observed during the match against Scotland, which ended with a 3:0 victory for the Brazilian team, allowing them to advance to the next stage of the tournament. The mobilization for this game led to a maximum drop of 14.4% relative to the baseline load. This figure surpasses those recorded for previous matches: 9.6% in the match against Haiti and 8.6% against Morocco.
According to ONS, prior to the report’s publication, the load on Brazil’s power grid fell by 7,000 MW, reaching about 91,000 MW, between 18:30 and 19:00, at the start of the match against Scotland. This reduction is equivalent to the average load of the entire state of Minas Gerais.
The drop continued during the first half of the game, but at halftime, around 19:53, demand surged by 5,632 MW in just 9 minutes. This was the highest load increase during halftimes in Brazil’s matches over the last three World Cups, equivalent to the combined average loads of the states of Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso, ONS emphasized.
On the same day, the load reached a minimum of 78,236 MW, and after the game ended, starting at 21:02, there was a new increase of 8,546 MW in approximately 18 minutes.
The CEO of ONS, Marcio Rea, stated that the organization was able to respond “operatively, quickly, and safely” to the population’s behavior related to the World Cup, which impacts the operation of Brazil’s electrical system. “These assessments help us prepare the SIN (National Integrated System) for the next World Cup matches, as well as for other large-scale mobilization events, highlighting our responsibility for energy supply to society,” he said in a statement.
Source: Folha de S.Paulo