PETALING JAYA, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Former Brazil international Gilberto Silva has praised the new generation of Brazilian players, highlighting their quality and potential as the Selecao squad prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2002 World Cup winner expressed confidence that the squad would continue to improve and maintain focus in the months leading up to the 2026 edition.
“We have a very good generation of players. When you see them, especially those in the national team, most of them are playing in Europe, in the best clubs around the world. And why are they there? Because they have quality. They are doing well.
“I hope that for the remaining months before the World Cup starts, they can become stronger and even more focused to play another World Cup for the country, to represent us in the best way possible and do the best they can, I think this is what we want from them,” he said during a media meet-and-greet session in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup Trophy’s tour here, today.
The former Arsenal midfielder added: “And I hope Brazil come back with the trophy again.”
Brazil are the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history, having won the tournament five times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Hundreds of football fans turned up to get a close look at the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy at Sunway Pyramid here today, where it was unveiled by Silva together with national football legend Datuk Santokh Singh and popular local rapper Muhammad Hairi Hamdan, better known as MK.
Earlier, the trophy tightly guarded by a team of security personnel including FIFA representatives, arrived in Malaysia as part of its global tour covering 75 stops, with a formal ceremony held at the Skypark Regional Aviation Centre in Shah Alam.
The arrival of the trophy which was also enlivened by a traditional local dance performance, was welcomed by President of ASEAN and South Pacific Operating Unit of The Coca-Cola Company, Selman Careaga and Youth and Sports Ministry secretary general Datuk Ts Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu.
This marks the first time the trophy has returned to Malaysia since 2014, when it visited in conjunction with that year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The trophy is expected to continue its tour to South Korea and Japan.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, is scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
-- BERNAMA
