Rabat – Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed a strong belief that his country’s national team will start the 2026 World Cup with a victory against Morocco.
Speaking after a meeting of Brazil’s Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development, Lula told reporters he expects the Seleção to win their opening match on Saturday night.
“I honestly think Brazil will win,” he said. “I have made mistakes in my predictions before, in 1982 and 1986, but this time I want our team to succeed.”
Lula added that even the smallest margin would satisfy him: “If Brazil wins by half a goal to zero, that would be good enough for me. But I believe they will win.”
The match against Morocco is scheduled for Saturday at 11 p.m. local time (GMT+1). It will mark the beginning of Group C, where Brazil and Morocco are joined by Scotland and Haiti.
The fixture is one of the most anticipated of the tournament, as Morocco enters the competition with momentum from their historic run in Qatar 2022, while Brazil arrives with a squad full of attacking talent.
Lula’s comments reflect the national mood in Brazil, where football is more than a sport; it is a matter of pride and identity.
His reference to past disappointments shows how deeply those defeats remain in memory, but also how much hope is placed on the current generation.
The World Cup often delivers surprises, and this opening game could be one of them. Whether Brazil wins comfortably or Morocco resists and shocks the world, Lula’s statement ensures that all eyes will be on the pitch when the two nations meet.
