Brazil's Lula jokes about needing a 'robot' to win next World Cup after team's early exit

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has humorously suggested that the national football team might need an "aggressive robot" to secure victory in the next World Cup, following their disappointing performance in the 2026 tournament. The Canarinha were eliminated in the round of 16, marking a premature end to their campaign.

During a visit to the Mauá Institute of Technology in São Paulo, Lula expressed admiration for a student's robotic project, quipping that it performed like star players Mbappé and Haaland. He then jokingly offered the robot to national team coach Carlo Ancelotti, stating, "If he wants to hire, he should hire this robot that will make Brazil win the World Cup."

Lula's comments echo the significant disappointment and criticism from Brazilian fans. He highlighted the stark contrast between the team's large delegation and their swift departure, noting with embarrassment that only one player used the official flight back to Brazil. The team's 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16 extended Brazil's World Cup title drought to 28 years, with their last victory dating back to 2002. This also marks their earliest elimination since the 1990 World Cup in Italy.