🤔 Debut déjà vu?

Within hours of this newsletter's publication, Brazil will play its Group C opener at the 2026 World Cup, facing Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. World Cup debuts are jittery affairs in Brazil, and the common sense impression is that the country “struggles” in its opening matches, suggesting that the team is often far too tense to play well.

That is no different this time around. While World Cup fever is only starting to take hold in the country, Brazilians’ lack of optimism about the country’s chances is notable — that their opener will be against Morocco, only one place below Brazil in the FIFA rankings, does not help matters.

Columns in major newspapers on Friday spoke of Brazil winning the 2026 World Cup as…

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