Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil are preparing for their opening group game at the 2026 World Cup finals.
A regular now for Brazil, the midfielder has started both warm up friendlies and will be in the eleven on Saturday.
Bruno Guimaraes has been talking about Newcastle United and Brazil at a press conference in New Jersey ahead of the opening group game against Morocco.
Esporte reporting the quotes from the press conference.
Bruno Guimaraes giving credit for his development in the Brazil set-up to Carlo Ancelotti and Fernando Diniz (who was interim Brazil boss in 2023 through to early 2024).
Bruno Guimaraes saying: “He [Carlo Ancelotti], along with [Fernando] Diniz, gave me the most confidence to play [for Brazil]. He [Ancelotti] was the guy who in the first call-ups, he called me and asked where I wanted to play, where I felt most secure playing. He was a guy who gave me that opening, gave me that confidence to play the best football I play at my club [Newcastle United], he took all the pressure off me.”
The Newcastle United captain going on to say: “Today I can be the Bruno that I am at my club [Newcastle United] here. I feel very good with the coach’s confidence; he has placed me as one of the leaders of the group, which was very important for me. Now, I just need to play my football, forget everything else and focus on my game.”
Four years ago, Bruno Guimaraes was in the Brazil squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Bruno had signed for Newcastle United in January 2022 and wasn’t a regular starter when the tournament kicked off in November 2022.
Bruno Guimaraes only played 67 minutes at that Qatar World Cup, making two sub appearances.
The United and Brazil star commenting: “A lot changes in four years, both in personal and professional life. I’m a much more prepared player today than I was four years ago. Everything was still new to me.”
Bruno Guimaraes now starts pretty much every match for Brazil and has been a key player throughout the World Cup qualifying this time: “If I’m not mistaken I was the player who played the most during the [World Cup qualifying] cycle. So, it’s another level of confidence. I feel more experienced, I don’t waste as much energy on silly things that I did four years ago, both on and off the field. I feel much more ready and much more relaxed to play. I hope everything goes well, because I believe I’m living my best moment…we feel prepared, ready, we can’t wait to start.”
Bruno Guimaraes scored and was man of the match in the most recent 2-1 friendly win over Egypt.
Kicking off on Saturday against Morocco in Group C, Brazil then play Haiti and Scotland.
The 2026 World Cup group games schedule for Newcastle United players:
Saturday 13 June
Morocco v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 11pm BBC
Sunday 14 June
Curacao v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 6pm ITV
Monday 15 June
Tunisia v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 3am ITV
Wednesday 17 June
Portugal v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 6pm BBC
Croatia v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 9pm ITV
Saturday 20 June
Haiti v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 1.30am ITV
Ivory Coast v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm ITV
Netherlands v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 6pm BBC
Tuesday 23 June
Ghana v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Wednesday 24 June
Scotland v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 11pm BBC
Colombia v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 3am ITV
Thursday 25 June
Ecuador v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Friday 26 June
Japan v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 12am BBC
Saturday 27 June
Panama v England (Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group match 10pm ITV
Sunday 28 June
Uzbekistan v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 12.30am BBC