Brazil group opened at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Morocco on Saturday, with Carlo Ancelotti on the sideline and Neymar in the squad at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match is the first step in Brazil’s push for its first World Cup success in 24 years.
Paul Clement said the pregame environment inside the camp is centered on routine and senior voices. He described it as "It’s a very religious and very spiritual atmosphere" and added, "There’s prayer before the game and there’s prayer after the game, preceded by a few words from the captain or senior player, or the head coach or the director of the federation. It’s nice. It brings a lot of togetherness and camaraderie."
Clement on Brazil’s spine
Clement said Brazil’s backbone runs through Alisson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes. He called it "The spine of the squad is very strong," then pointed to the other end of the pitch: "The real strength of the team is in the attacking positions."
That attack includes Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha and Neymar. The 34-year-old was called into the squad almost three years after winning the most recent of his 128 caps, and he arrives while battling a calf injury.
Ancelotti’s Brazil setup
Ancelotti has taken over a team trying to end a 24-year wait for another World Cup title, and Clement said the coach fits the job. "Carlo is always a great fit for a big team; big dressing room, big characters, big personalities," he said. "He’s not looking for conflict with people. He’s looking to get the best out of them."
That kind of setup puts a premium on leadership as much as talent, with senior players expected to set the tone and the forwards expected to decide matches. Brazil’s opening test against Morocco is the first chance to show whether that balance can carry through a tournament that begins with a full-strength name list and the pressure that comes with it.
