The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has released images of the national team's latest training session as Brazil gears up for its FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Norway. The knockout clash is scheduled for July 6 (IST) in New Jersey, USA, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
CBF shares training photos
Posting photographs on X, the CBF expressed confidence in the squad's preparation. "We're still on the path toward the next destination: ROUND OF 16!" the federation wrote, accompanying images of players working out on the training ground. Brazil, a five-time world champion, is seeking a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
Vinicius Jr meets Jay-Z
Ahead of the match, Brazilian star Vinicius Jr met legendary American rapper Jay-Z. The meeting, shared on Vinicius's Instagram, highlighted the crossover between sports and pop culture. Vinicius is represented by Roc Nation Sports, a sports management company founded by Jay-Z.
Historic scoring run
Vinicius Jr has made history in this tournament. According to ESPN FC, he became the first Brazilian player in 24 years to score in each of his nation's first three FIFA World Cup matches, a feat last achieved by Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo in 2002. Overall, he is only the fifth Brazilian to accomplish this, following Jairzinho (1970), Romario (1994), and Ronaldo and Rivaldo (2002). Notably, Brazil won the tournament on each of the previous three occasions.
Golden Boot contention
So far, Vinicius has recorded four goals and one assist in the World Cup, placing him among the contenders for the Golden Boot. Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe lead the race with six goals each.
Brazil's Round of 16 opponent, Norway, will pose a significant challenge as the five-time champions aim to advance. The match is set for Sunday, July 6, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for Indian Standard Time.
