Alisson says underdog talk can help Brazil before Morocco World Cup opener

MORRISTOWN, United States (AFP) — Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker said Thursday that questions surrounding the country’s chances may prove useful as the five-time world champions get set to begin their World Cup run in North America.

“It is a good thing that there are some doubts about the team, because that has been the case on other occasions in the past,” the Liverpool keeper told reporters, referring to earlier Brazil squads that were not widely tipped for success but still went on to win the tournament.

Brazilian supporters have waited 24 years for the Selecao to return to the top of world football. When Brazil last won the title, at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, they were not viewed as the strongest favourites before the competition began. They enter the 2026 tournament in North America with a similar perception.

Much of the talk about possible winners has focused on defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain and France, who lost the 2022 final. England and Portugal have also featured regularly in those conversations.

“The current team has different characteristics compared to past sides. That last period was very difficult for all the players, for various reasons,” Alisson said at Brazil’s camp in New Jersey.

Brazil forward Vinicius Junior trained Friday at the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morristown ahead of the Group C match against Morocco. Goalkeepers Ederson and Alisson were also involved in the session at the same venue.

“The most important thing is how we feel now, and we hope that translates into us getting a good result against Morocco,” Alisson added.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team reached the World Cup by finishing fifth in South America’s 10-nation qualifying table, after an uneven campaign in which two coaches were dismissed before the Italian took over a year ago.

Brazil have since put together three straight friendly victories. Their recent results include a 6-2 win over Panama and a 2-1 defeat of Egypt last week.

They open Group C against Morocco on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. The match brings together the teams ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, by FIFA, making it one of the most attractive early fixtures in the expanded 48-team tournament.

Both sides will be seeking a strong start. Brazil are due to face outsiders Haiti next, before closing the first round against Scotland.

Brazil’s last World Cup triumph came on United States soil in 1994, but recent tournaments have brought frustration. They have exited at the quarter-final stage in four of the past five editions and were also beaten 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 semi-finals at home.

For Alisson, now 33, this will be a third World Cup. He played every Brazil match at Russia 2018 and missed just one game at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Brazil’s 2018 campaign ended with a quarter-final loss to Belgium. Four years later, they went out to Croatia on penalties.

“On what happened in the past, I think in football you can’t afford to spend time wallowing,” Alisson said, while praising Ancelotti’s impact.

“Since Ancelotti came in, the atmosphere has been transformed. He has such a strong presence and doesn’t focus on controversial issues.”