Brazil legend Gilberto Silva has dropped a bombshell just one month before the 2026 World Cup, revealing his thoughts on the top contenders for the title.
Speaking in a virtual press conference on Monday, Silva, a member of FIFA’s Technical Study Group, said: “When I look at recent years, I see France as very strong. Spain as well.”
He added: “As for Brazil, I’m not sure yet, to be honest. There are a lot of rumors surrounding the team, but I hope Carlo Ancelotti can bring all the pieces together and deliver a strong World Cup.”
The former Arsenal midfielder and 2002 World Cup winner continued: “I don’t see Brazil as the clear favorite. But at some point, the players might click, and things could change.”
Silva also expressed interest in Portugal’s prospects: “I’m curious to see how the Portuguese handle it. They have players at some of Europe’s best clubs,” specifically highlighting Vitinha and João Neves from Paris Saint-Germain.
Silva serves as one of 11 experts on FIFA’s Technical Study Group, which will analyze all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup under the guidance of legendary coach Arsène Wenger.
He expressed regret that no Brazilian coach is among the tournament’s participating managers, saying: “I don’t think Brazil has trouble producing new coaches, but there’s a negative narrative around what they do. The pressure on them is huge in the country when they lose a match. This challenge needs to be addressed, and positive ways of working need to be found.”
Despite this, Silva voiced full confidence in Italian coach Ancelotti: “It will be different, of course. With all respect to Carlo and everything he has achieved, I would have loved to see a Brazilian coach. But I fully support him as long as he is the national team coach. I don’t see him as Italian; I see him as part of the team in Brazil. He will give hope to young people that Brazil can win the Cup again.”
Silva also praised FIFA’s introduction of three-minute “water breaks” in each half, calling them an important tactical moment for coaches, similar to what was seen at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
