Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: Brazil will kick off their FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Carlo Ancelotti’s team aims to reclaim their supremacy on American soil, putting behind the memory of their quarter-final loss to Croatia in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. It is evident that Morocco—semifinalists in the Qatar World Cup—will not make things easy for them. Mindful of the opponent's strength, Ancelotti struck a cautious note at the pre-match press conference: "Fear is an important part of life." He meant that underestimating Morocco could lead to trouble.
Ancelotti’s success at the club level—having coached teams like Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid—is unquestionable. He holds the record for winning five UEFA Champions League titles. Yet, despite such success, he speaks of fear. He believes that this fear is beneficial. "Fear is an important part of life," he says. "If you don't have fear, you might suffer. You might mistake a lion for a cat. Fear can save your life. The battle against Morocco is just like that. You have to remain constantly alert and focused on the opponent. You must remember that your team is facing a formidable adversary. We have to be ready to give our best against Morocco, the most successful team in Africa. We need to deliver a complete performance to win the match."
Ancelotti speaks of Morocco with respect. "I am an optimist and confident by nature," he says. "But I am not careless. We are ready to play our first World Cup match. I want to showcase a complete performance typical of modern football. However, we must remember that no team in the World Cup is small—certainly not Morocco." "They are one of the best teams in Africa."
Despite achieving extraordinary success at the club level, aiming for a sixth World Cup title as Brazil's coach is a new experience for Ancelotti. He remarked, "The role of bringing success as a national team coach is a new experience. It is certainly a special feeling. I am coaching a team that is not only the most successful in the world, but for the people of Brazil, football is not just a sport—it is a profound emotion. I am proud to shoulder the responsibility of coaching this country. Two things are paramount: a sense of responsibility and respect. Keeping that in mind, I am determined to perform my duties effectively. I am ready to help Brazil achieve its goal of winning a sixth World Cup and add another milestone to my coaching career."
Coach Ancelotti has clearly stated that Neymar will not be in the Brazil squad for the opening match against Morocco, as he is still recovering from a calf muscle injury. According to Ancelotti, "Neymar is working very hard to recover and regain fitness. I have included him in the squad not only for his skills but also for his experience and the inspiration he provides to the younger players on the team."
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Morocco match, Vinicius Junior—one of Brazil's key players—shared his mindset and objectives. He said, "I haven't come here just to participate in the World Cup; I have arrived with the aim of restoring Brazil to its position of supremacy. For us, the World Cup campaign doesn't begin with the Morocco match; the preparation to achieve our goal started long ago. We are all very focused. I don't think about personal accolades or awards. I won't step onto the pitch aiming to be named the best player; my sole objective is to win a sixth World Cup title wearing the Brazil jersey. The World Cup is always different from other tournaments. Our quarter-final loss to Croatia on penalties in the last World Cup taught us that we cannot afford to be complacent for even a moment until the final whistle blows."
Vinicius confirmed that he is fully fit and ready to give his best at the World Cup. He also spoke highly of Coach Ancelotti. He says, "I played quite a few matches in the last World Cup, which helped me gain experience. I am happiest about remaining injury-free. Also, playing under Ancelotti’s coaching is always a special feeling because he gives me the freedom to play in my own style. Ancelotti has told us to be ready to give our all on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. After all, it is the World Cup; even a minor mistake here can make a huge difference. Personally, the number of goals I score doesn't matter as much as how well I play and whether I can help the team win."