Published On 7/6/2026
Brazil’s exit from the World Cup in 2026 was not just a new loss for a team accustomed to competing for the title, but rather it brought to mind one of the most bitter memories in the history of the Seleção. Thirty-six years after Italy bid farewell to the World Cup in 1990 in the round of 16 against Argentina with the famous goal of Claudio Caniggia after a magical pass from the star Diego Maradona, the scene was repeated in the United States, but this time at the hands of Norway, which defeated Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16, ending the dream of the sixth star early.
Although the Brazilian team was the party that had the most possession and created opportunities, Norway exploited its attacks efficiently, and striker Erling Haaland led his country to a historic victory, while player Neymar’s goal came from a penalty kick in late stoppage time to save the team from elimination.
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The Brazilian media unanimously agreed that the failure went beyond losing a match, considering that it represents a new stage in the national team’s crisis that has been going on for more than two decades.
The Globo Esporte website focused on the poignant human scene of Neymar leaving the field in tears, considering that his statement in which he alluded to the end of his international career summed up the extent of the shock experienced by the team and the fans, noting that Brazil recorded its first exit from the round of 16 in the World Cup since the World Cup in 1990, in a comparison that reopened the wounds of that generation.
As for the newspaper “LANCE”, it considered that the dream of winning the sixth star “evaporated once again”, stressing that the team lacked the attacking character that has always distinguished Brazilian football, and that Neymar’s participation in the second half was not enough to change the fate of the match, after the team was unable to translate its advantage into decisive goals.
The UOL Esporte website focused on the technical aspect, criticizing the project with which Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti entered the tournament, considering that the reliance on a number of veteran players and the delay in the process of replacement and renewal were clearly reflected in the decisive moments, and that the team reached the World Cup before the completion of the rebuilding process that the fans were waiting for.
Gazeta Esportiva newspaper described the exit as a new blow to Brazilian football, noting that changing the technical staff and signing Ancelotti were not enough to restore the global prestige of the team, which continues to stay away from the podium since winning its fifth world title in South Korea and Japan in 2002.
