Mourinho says he wants Real Madrid players to lose at the 2026 World Cup

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho said he would like his squad to be knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, so he can work with them during the preseason.

Mourinho made the comment on the BeastModeOn podcast.

Madrid’s squad for the tournament includes players such as Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Junior, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger, Marc Cucurella, among others.

With many of them expected to progress far in the competition, Mourinho may find little time to prepare for the new season.

“What am I looking forward to in the World Cup? I want Real Madrid players to lose,” Mourinho said. “Because I want them back for pre‑season with me in July!”