FIFA World Cup 2026: Shreyas Iyer backs Brazil as WC fever grips India's T20 captain
Mumbai, June 19
India's newly appointed T20I captain, Shreyas Iyer, has caught World Cup fever, expressing his support for five-time champions Brazil on Friday.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathers momentum, Iyer shared a series of photos on social media, sporting Brazil's eye-catching black-and-white goalkeeper jersey.
"A nod to the beautiful game," Iyer wrote in an X post.
Brazil will look to get their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign back on track when they face Haiti in their second Group C match on Friday (Local Time), with head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressing confidence that his side can overcome the shortcomings exposed in their tournament opener.
Despite criticism following the draw against Morocco, Ancelotti insisted there was no need for alarm.
"You don't win the World Cup in the first match," the Italian told reporters on the eve of the match, according to Reuters.
"The players' self-criticism was very positive. I think we'll sort out the problems; I remain confident that we'll be competitive," he said.
The five-time world champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening fixture, needing a moment of brilliance from Vinicius Jr to salvage a point after Ismael Saibari had put Morocco ahead.
With Scotland leading Group C on three points following their victory over Haiti, Brazil knows a win in Philadelphia would boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.
Brazil head into the Haiti clash under pressure to deliver a convincing performance, but Ancelotti remains confident his side can respond as they pursue their first victory of the tournament.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Wah! Shreyas Iyer supporting Brazil - that's a pleasant surprise! I thought he'd back Argentina like most of our cricket stars. That black-and-white jersey is indeed beautiful. Hope Brazil finds their rhythm soon - the draw with Morocco was a wake-up call. 🇧🇷
Honestly, I'm not convinced about this Brazil hype. They struggled against Morocco and now face a weak Haiti side. Ancelotti's "no alarm" statement feels like typical manager talk. But Shreyas backing them shows solidarity across sports - that's the spirit! 🇮🇳
What a wonderful crossover between cricket and football! As an Indian football fan, it's heartening to see our cricket captain engaging with the beautiful game. Brazil has that magic aura - win or lose. Just hope they don't repeat 2014! 😅
Iyer's gesture is great for Indian football visibility, but I wish our cricket stars would also follow Indian Super League more. Brazil v/s Haiti should be straightforward, but don't underestimate Caribbean teams - they upset the USA last time! 👀
Good to see Shreyas promoting football in cricket-crazy India. But Ancelotti's confidence looks misplaced - Brazil's defense is shaky. That Vinicius Jr goal was pure individual brilliance, not team play. They need to sort out their tactical issues. Still, hoping they win for the sake of entertainment! 🎉
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