2026 World Cup: I Want Real Madrid Players To Lose – Mourinho

José Mourinho has admitted he hopes several of his Real Madrid players are knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup early so they can return in time for pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign.

The Portuguese coach made the light-hearted remark during an appearance on the BeastModeOn podcast, where he discussed the impact of the tournament on his plans for the upcoming season. 

Real Madrid have a large contingent of players representing their respective countries at the World Cup, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger and Marc Cucurella. With many of them expected to progress deep into the tournament, Mourinho acknowledged that it could significantly reduce the time available to work with his full squad before the new season begins. 

Speaking on the podcast, Mourinho joked about what he wants from the World Cup.

“What am I looking forward to in the World Cup? I want Real Madrid players to lose because I want them back for pre-season with me in July!”

While clearly made in jest, Mourinho’s comments reflect the challenge faced by club managers whose key players spend several weeks on international duty before returning for a short off-season break and pre-season training. With preparations for the 2026–27 campaign set to begin in July, the Real Madrid boss is keen to have as many players available as early as possible.