19 June,2026 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shreyas Iyer (Pic: X)
India's recently named T20I skipper, Shreyas Iyer, has officially caught World Cup 2026 fever, revealing his allegiance to five-time world champions Brazil on Friday.
As excitement for FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to sweep across the globe, Iyer took to social media to post a series of images of himself clad in Brazil's striking black-and-white goalkeeper shirt.
"A nod to the beautiful game," Iyer shared in an X post.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Brazil is aiming to get their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey back on course as they prepare to clash with Haiti in its second Group C fixture on Friday. Team manager Carlo Ancelotti has voiced a strong belief that his group possesses the capability to correct the errors that were evident during their initial tournament outing.
Even after heavy criticism for dropping points in their opening draw against Morocco, Ancelotti firmly maintained that there is absolutely no reason for his squad to panic.
"You don't win the World Cup in the first match," the Italian tactician told members of the press on the eve of the game.
"The players' self-criticism was very positive. I think we'll sort out the problems; I remain confident that we'll be competitive," he added reassuringly.
The South American powerhouse had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their first match, relying heavily on an individual moment of brilliance from talisman Vinicius Jr to rescue a vital point after Ismael Saibari had initially put the African side ahead.
With Scotland currently sitting at the summit of Group C with three points following their opening triumph over Haiti, Brazil is fully aware that securing a victory in Philadelphia is essential to strengthening their road toward the knockout rounds.
The five-time champions face immense pressure to deliver a dominant, convincing performance against Haiti, but Ancelotti is steadfast in his conviction that his players will rise to the occasion in search of their maiden win of the tournament.
Brazil and Morocco are the two favourites to advance from the group, but Scotland is more than capable of causing an upset. Neymar is set to miss out yet again due to a calf injury and will hope to be fit in time for the final group game for Brazil.
(With ANI inputs)
