World Cup 2026: Vinícius Jr says Seleção “here to make history” ahead of Morocco opener

Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior has declared that the Seleção are “here to make history” as they prepare to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on Saturday evening, in a highly anticipated Group C encounter.

The five-time world champions start their tournament journey after four years of preparation, with expectations once again high as they aim to add a sixth World Cup title to their storied history.

Speaking ahead of the opening match, Vinícius addressed both Brazil’s ambitions and the long-running debate about the difference between club and international performances for some of the country’s biggest stars.

The Real Madrid attacker acknowledged that the international environment presents unique pressures compared with club football, where players feature more regularly throughout the season.

“At Real Madrid, I play a lot of games, here with the national team, not many. Here, if we lose a game, we lose confidence, we lose sight of our objectives. The World Cup has arrived, there are eight games left, we can change history. Everyone is ready to write a page of history,” Vini said.

Vinícius was equally direct when discussing Brazil’s objectives for the tournament, insisting that the squad believe they have the quality to compete for the title.

“We are here to be champions. We are at the level of the great national teams, the great clubs. We have excellent players. We have progressed in recent months. In the World Cup, everything is reset. It doesn’t matter who reached the last final, who won the Copa América, what matters is what happens from tomorrow (Saturday). We are here to make history and experience an exceptional competition,” the athlete said.

Brazil begin their Group C campaign against Morocco, a side that reached the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup and arrive in strong form and with growing international respect.

Vinícius praised their opponents, highlighting the quality within their squad and the challenge they are expected to present in the opening fixture.

“Morocco has incredibly talented players with exceptional technical ability. Brahim, who plays with me, Hakimi, and all the others who regularly play in the Champions League: they have built a very solid team. It will be a fantastic match, and I hope that football fans around the world will enjoy a great spectacle.”

The Brazil forward also spoke about Neymar, whose return to training is expected in the coming week under coach Carlo Ancelotti, a development that has been welcomed within the national team setup.

Vinícius paid tribute to the forward, who has long been a central figure for Brazil and an inspiration to the current generation of players.

“Everything I did on the pitch was to try and emulate Neymar.”

His remarks underline the respect Neymar continues to command within the squad, even as Brazil turn their focus to the next phase of their international evolution.

As kickoff approaches, Brazil’s message is clear: they are targeting glory, aware of the challenge ahead, but confident in their ability to shape another defining chapter in World Cup history.