After winning just one of their past five 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Brazil head coach Dorival Junior has made a shock claim about his side at the competition.
The Selecao are currently fourth on the CONMEBOL qualifying table after seven matches, with their most recent game ending in a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Saturday.
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Brazil will be looking to build on that result when they prepare to take on Paraguay on Wednesday morning, and continue their push to secure a spot at the global showpiece set to be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States in two years' time.
Speaking ahead of that game, Junior revealed his lofty ambitions for the tournament, despite the team's struggles of late.
"We will be in the 2026 World Cup final. We will be finalists," the manager said in a press conference, per journalist Fabrizio Romano.
"You can film me while I'm saying this. I have no doubts. We will be there."
This comes after the nation experienced an underwhelming 2022 World Cup campaign that saw them get knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Brazil lost 4-2 on penalties to Croatia, who were, in turn, knocked out by eventual winners Argentina in the next round.
The Canarinho were also knocked out in the quarter-finals of the recent 2024 Copa America, suffering another 4-2 defeat on penalties, this time to Uruguay.
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Junior, who was appointed to the role in January this year, will be hoping that when the global showpiece comes around in 2027, he will be able to break what seems to have become a trend for the five-time World Cup winners.