Soccer fans are marking the days on their calendars for a new edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To liven up the wait, several debates have emerged, the biggest of which is which teams will be present in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and, of course, who will be the new world champion.
However, this debate has been joined by a two-time former world champion with Brazil, Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, known in the sporting world as Cafú, who hopes his country will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Cafú analyzes his candidates for the World Cup final
With his sights set on the tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, the former Roma and Milan player sees the South American teams as possible candidates and is excited about the possibility of them facing each other in the final match of the tournament:
“It would be a great final, I’ve already thought about it… Argentina vs. Brazil in the World Cup Final in the United States would be fantastic,” he said in conversation with TNT Sports.
Cafú is an authority on finals and World Cups, having won not one but two editions: United States 1994 and Korea and Japan 2002.
Hoping for a South American Superclásico, the 55-year-old former player revealed that he has confidence in the work of Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of the Brazilian national team, and that he could bring home the sixth World Cup: “Brazil is always a protagonist, especially when we talk about the World Cup. It’s a team that knows what it’s doing; it’s the team to beat. I’m sure Brazil is going to have a great tournament,” he said.
In addition, the legendary Brazilian national team full-back also analyzed the Albiceleste, who come into this edition as the reigning world champions after defeating France on December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar:
“Argentina is the defending champion, the defending World Cup champion, and will be a very tough team in the World Cup,” he said, reflecting on team captain Lionel Messi: “[He] will approach the World Cup with a lot of responsibility, with a lot of commitment. Messi knows he is the pillar of the Argentine national team, and Argentina in turn knows that playing with Messi makes them a very difficult team to beat.”
Brazil will be in Group C along with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They will make their debut against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, at New Jersey Stadium in New York. Argentina, meanwhile, will be in Group J, along with Austria, Algeria, and Jordan, and will make their debut against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16.
However, Lionel has not yet confirmed his participation in the tournament, and Neymar will have to recover from his injuries “100%” if he wants to be among Ancelotti’s selections. We will just have to wait and see if the grand final features the finalists chosen by Cafú.
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