Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker is brimming with confidence as his side prepares to face Morocco in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a Group C showdown that has fans on edge.
The encounter brings together the legendary five-time world champions and a Moroccan team that stunned the football world by reaching the semifinals in 2022. For Brazil, it’s a chance to erase the pain of their quarterfinal exit in Qatar.
For the Atlas Lions, the task is no less daunting—they must try to replicate their historic run against one of the tournament’s heavyweights.
Speaking ahead of the match, Alisson shrugged off any talk of Brazil being underdogs, suggesting that flying below the radar might actually play to their benefit. He pointed to the nation’s long history of thriving when external expectations are kept in check.
“What really counts is how you show up for that first game. And we’ll be ready,” Alisson said.
“The last four years were tough—we felt that loss deeply. But things started turning around once Ancelotti came on board. He brings real authority to the dressing room and gives us the calm we need to focus.”
According to Alisson, the 67-year-old manager has made tightening up the defence a top priority—an area that has often been Brazil’s weak link.
“Some of those goals we conceded could have been avoided. We’re putting in the work because the World Cup is a short tournament. With the attacking quality we have, we know we’ll always create chances to score,” he added.
Brazil remains the most decorated nation in World Cup history, with more matches played (114), more wins (74), and more titles (five) than any other country. They are also the only team to have appeared in every edition since the tournament began in 1930.
Still, it has been 24 years since they last lifted the trophy—a drought that now matches the dry spell between 1970 and 1994, which finally ended on U.S. soil.
