The dream of a sixth World Cup title ended prematurely on Sunday afternoon (5). Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup ended the team's campaign and frustrated millions of fans.
While the final whistle signaled elimination on the field, another crucial game was being played behind the scenes: maintaining the balance of the SIN (National Interconnected System) in the face of the sharp fluctuations in energy consumption caused by the match.
Despite the challenging scenario, the ONS (National Electric System Operator) managed to conduct the operation without major problems. Compared to a typical Sunday, the system load registered a maximum reduction of 16%. At 18:30 PM, when the expected demand was 84.865 MW, consumption was only 71.686 MW.
The drop in load began even before the game started. From 16:50 PM onwards, demand on the National Interconnected System (SIN) entered a downward ramp that totaled 3.475 MW until the first minutes of the match, reflecting the concentration of the population watching the game broadcasts.
During the halftime break, at 17:50 PM, the behavior reversed abruptly. In just 11 minutes, the load increased by approximately 7.128 MW – the equivalent of powering the entire state of Minas Gerais. This surge was driven by the temporary resumption of activities in homes and businesses during the game's pause.
With the end of the game at 19:04 PM, the team's elimination triggered a new surge in demand. In the following 30 minutes, demand increased by another 7.012 MW, equivalent to the combined average consumption of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Rondônia. This recovery coincided with the resumption of typical Sunday evening activities, and by around 20:30 PM, consumption had returned to expected levels for that time of day.
The operation required heightened attention from the ONS (National System Operator) because the match was played during a period that is naturally complex for the system. On Sundays, the load is already lower than that observed on weekdays and, in the late afternoon, it usually begins to increase with the switching on of lights and the increased use of electrical equipment, such as showers. During the game, however, this expected increase practically disappeared, concentrating only during halftime and after the final whistle.
This type of behavior demands rapid responses from the electrical system's operation. Energy generation and consumption need to remain permanently balanced to maintain grid frequency and avoid unexpected outages.
When load decreases, the ONS (National System Operator) reduces generation, respecting the technical limits of each power plant. Similarly, when demand grows rapidly, it is essential that hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants are ready to respond quickly, ensuring the stability of the SIN (National Interconnected System).
“Regardless of the outcome on the field, ONS’s mission remains the same throughout the World Cup: to guarantee a safe, reliable, and coordinated operation of the SIN (National Interconnected System). And, for the Operator, the challenge is not over. We still have important games on our radar, such as the semifinals and the grand final on July 19th. In real time, we will continue to manage this scenario, which requires monitoring load and diversified generation sources throughout Brazil,” states ONS Director-General Marcio Rea in a press release.
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