A five-mile-long (8 Km) queue of cars and trucks loaded with celebrating soccer fans turned Rio into a huge traffic jam on Tuesday (June 23), when the World Cup champions came home from Mexico.

Their triumphant entry had been delayed by almost three hours at the airport, where hundreds of thousands of singing, cheering fans hemmed them in.

The reception in the City streets was the most stupendous ever seen in the city.

The team rode into town on top of the raised platforms of three fire trucks, dancing sambas on the way.

The broad Vargas and Rio Branco avenues--the principal streets of Rio--were crammed from side to side with acclaiming fans.

Earlier, the team had lunched with President Emilio Garrastazu Medici in Brazilia, before flying on to Rio.

Brazilians were celebrating a national holiday to mark the team's homecoming.