Vinicius Jr Shocks Football World by Snubbing Brazil from His 2026 World Cup Favorites
According to Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, Argentina, Portugal, Spain and France stand as the primary favorites for the 2026 World Cup, ranking above his native Brazil.
Setting aside patriotic sentiment, Vinicius Jr's assessment makes sense. "They possess the strongest squads," he stated matter-of-factly during a discussion with Spanish content creator Ibai Llanos.
Argentina currently hold both the World Cup and Copa América titles, securing their qualification for title defense with the continent's top record. Lionel Messi's team dominated Brazil in both encounters with a combined 5–1 scoreline and concluded the qualifying campaign 10 points ahead of Vinicius Jr's Brazil.
France reached the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina and advanced to the Euro 2024 semifinals plus the UEFA Nations League final last summer. Portugal claimed that Nations League trophy.
Vinicius Jr witnesses Spain's exceptional talent firsthand through his Real Madrid duties. "Spain consistently performs at a high level with exceptional quality throughout their roster," he acknowledged regarding the current European champions.
However, Brazil's World Cup dreams remain alive.
Carlo Ancelotti's Abundant Confidence
Carlo Ancelotti's Abundant Confidence
While Vinicius Jr remains cautious, Brazil's manager Carlo Ancelotti exudes confidence. "Every time he contacts me, he insists we'll capture the World Cup," the Real Madrid forward shared about his former coach. "He's already studying Portuguese; his progress is remarkably fast."
Ancelotti's appointment has certainly elevated Brazil's expectations, though they had nowhere to go but up.
Dorival Júnior was dismissed last March following a devastating 4–1 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires, having managed fewer than half his 16 matches successfully. Even that disappointing record seemed impressive compared to Fernando Diniz's disastrous six-match tenure, whose temporary leadership ended mercifully in November 2023 after three consecutive losses.
Ancelotti's Brazil tenure hasn't been flawless—defeats to Bolivia and Japan occurred—but the atmosphere has clearly transformed. "He's revolutionized our team's identity," Vinicius Jr emphasized. "Our play has improved, we're more joyful and comfortable. His appointment represents the best development possible. He could practically be my grandfather."
Can Brazil Win the 2026 World Cup?
Can Brazil Win the 2026 World Cup?
"I've achieved numerous victories, but my hunger continues," Vinicius Jr explained. "We endured a trophyless season [at Real Madrid], which was extremely challenging for us. This year, hopefully, we'll secure the sixth star with Brazil."
Brazil has pursued "La Sexta" since their 2002 triumph. Optimistic supporters note that those champions entered the tournament with similarly modest expectations following a troubled qualifying phase, yet emerged victorious.
The 2002 squad featured a dynamic attacking trio dubbed the "Three Rs": Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Ancelotti has tested a four-man fluid attack featuring Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Matheus Cunha and Estêvão. This quartet dismantled South Korea and overcame African champions Senegal last year. Nevertheless, they struggled against Tunisia's defensive organization.
Whether a 4-2-4 formation can succeed in contemporary football remains uncertain, but the two central midfielders are vital for any success. Casemiro, who calls himself an "Ancelotti soldier," has transferred his improving Manchester United performances to international duty, developing strong chemistry with Bruno Guimarães.
Unfortunately, the Newcastle United player will miss March internationals due to a severe hamstring injury that could sideline him until April. If Guimarães recovers his peak form by summer, he should maintain his starting role alongside Casemiro. Whether this partnership can propel Brazil beyond Vinicius Jr's tournament favorites remains questionable.
read THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE
read THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE
Grey Whitebloom is a writer, reporter and editor for Sports Illustrated FC. Born and raised in London, he is an avid follower of German, Italian and Spanish top flight football.