Brazil’s heartbreaking 2026 FIFA World Cup exit has reignited one of football’s strangest internet conspiracies — “The Cat Curse.”
The five-time world champions crashed out in the Round of 16 after losing
2-1 to Norway, extending their painful wait for a sixth World Cup trophy. Cameras captured Neymar in tears on the turf after the final whistle, while devastated fans online immediately brought back memories of a bizarre moment from Qatar 2022 involving… a cat.
The viral theory dates back to December 2022, when a stray cat casually jumped onto the table during a Brazil press conference featuring Vinícius Jr. Instead of gently moving it away, Brazil’s press officer abruptly grabbed the cat and threw it off the table. While the moment initially became meme material online, many viewers slammed the treatment of the animal, especially because cats hold deep symbolic significance in many cultures.
Soon after, Brazil were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup by Croatia despite being tournament favourites. Since then, fans jokingly (and sometimes seriously) began blaming the incident for Brazil’s football downfall, calling it “The Cat Curse.” Now, after another disastrous World Cup campaign in 2026, the conspiracy theory has exploded all over social media again.
“until they find that cat and put him back on that table, the curse won’t be broken,” one user joked.
Another viral comment read: “Folks, this cat brought the biggest curse I’ve ever seen, not even the plagues of Egypt were that bad.”
“Cats are Gods, they can’t be treated like that with such disrespect. Grabbing it by the scruff like it were a dirty rag….the audacity. Now to suffer the consequences 🤣🤣🤣,” another person wrote.
Some users even pointed out how eerily similar the cats looked. “Notice that it’s the same cat. Coincidence? I don’t think so (?,” a comment read.
enquanto não acharem esse gato e colocarem ele de volta nessa mesa a maldição não será quebrada pic.twitter.com/RQlIh0zRZU
— Rafael, um socialista de iPhone (@tuitero_rafael) July 5, 2026
The theory may sound ridiculous, but Brazil’s football struggles are very real. The team has now gone years without recreating the iconic “joga bonito” magic that once defined Brazilian football. Many fans believe the current generation has failed to match the flair, dominance and identity that made Brazil the most feared football nation in history. And so, with Neymar crying, another World Cup dream shattered, and the internet once again obsessed with that infamous press conference cat, the “curse” refuses to die.
