Brazil legend Cafu has called for an immediate focus on the 2030 World Cup following the national team's unexpected exit from the current tournament in the last 16. The Selecao's performance, which ended in a loss to Norway, has prompted widespread disappointment in Brazil.
Cafu, a two-time World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002, emphasized the need for a structured approach to rebuilding the squad. "Unfortunately, the result wasn't what we expected in this World Cup," Cafu told the Daily Mail at a LEGO event in New York. "Brazil's always a highly respected team. They've been world champions, we weren't great in this World Cup - that's a fact... the Brazilian national team performed worse than we hoped. But I always say cycles start, cycles end and the cycle for the 2030 Brazilian national team starts now."
He stressed that addressing the team's performance requires more than just a superficial review. "To think about what went right in this World Cup, correct what went wrong," he explained. "It's not just a quick, one-off thing, because [one game] isn't going to make you throw away four years of work."
The Selecao's defeat also marked the end of Neymar's international career. The 34-year-old forward, second only to Cafu in appearances for Brazil and the country's all-time leading scorer, was a surprise inclusion in the 2026 squad. "The great idols, massive stars, people who have success in sport and in life, one day all retire," Cafu said of Neymar. "Neymar leaves behind a great legacy in soccer. He is retiring as a major player and we're going to miss him."
Cafu believes direct comparisons between different generations of Brazilian football are difficult. "You can't really compare generations," he stated. "I can't compare my generation to the 70s, 70s can't compare to the 80s, 80s can't compare to the 90s. They were a generation of winners and generations that made soccer history. Our generation made history playing in three consecutive World Cup Finals and I hope that the generation of 2030 can have the same impact."
The attention now turns to the next generation of Brazilian talent, with players like Vinicius Jr expected to lead the team in the 2030 World Cup, which will be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Cafu was speaking at the official opening of the LEGO Fan Zone in New York City, where the LEGO Group and FIFA unveiled a recreation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
