Cássio hails Hugo Souza, backs him for 2026 World Cup call-up

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Central do Timão

·16 December 2025

Cássio hails Hugo Souza, backs him for 2026 World Cup call-up

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the evening of last Sunday (14), Corinthians qualified for the Copa do Brasil final by overcoming Cruzeiro 5 x 4 on penalties at the Neo Química Arena, after being defeated 2 x 1 in regular time. In the first leg, it is worth remembering, the Alvinegro won 1 x 0 at Mineirão, with a goal from striker Memphis Depay.

After the match, goalkeeper Cássio, now at Cruzeiro and considered one of the greatest idols in Corinthians' history, gave an interview to the press and praised Hugo Souza highly. The number 1 saved two penalty kicks (Wallace and Gabriel Barbosa) and was crucial for the Alvinegro to secure a spot in the final.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I really root for him. I hope he breaks all my records at Corinthians. I think we have to root for the possibility, he's a hardworking guy. I get along very well with Marcelo Carpes, who is the goalkeeper coach at Corinthians, who speaks very well of him (Hugo). I root a lot,” he began.

Cássio played for Corinthians from February 2012 to May 2024, where he played 712 matches (second with the most games in Corinthians' history) and won nine titles: Libertadores (2012), Club World Cup (2012), Recopa Sudamericana (2013), Campeonato Paulista (2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019), and Brasileirão (2015 and 2017).

He then stated that he is rooting for the Corinthians goalkeeper to be one of the three goalkeepers for the Brazilian National Team, led by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, at the 2026 World Cup: “I don't know if this World Cup will be enough for him to be the starting goalkeeper. I hope he can be among the three goalkeepers because he deserves it, but who knows, in the next World Cup, he might be the starting goalkeeper for the Brazilian team. He is building a great story at Corinthians, being important. He was important in the Paulista, made great saves. Hopefully, if he is called up to the National Team, if he gets the opportunity, he can represent our country very well,” he said.

Since his arrival at Corinthians, Hugo Souza has become one of the pillars of the team's reconstruction and the pursuit of prominence on the national and international stage. Signed in July 2024 after a standout season with Chaves, Portugal, the number 1 was crucial in the team's surge in the 2024 Brasileirão (from the Z4 to the Pré-Libertadores) and in winning the 2025 Paulistão against Palmeiras, where he saved a penalty from midfielder Raphael Veiga in the second match in Itaquera.

In 88 matches with the Corinthians jersey, he has saved 10 penalties – the fourth most in the club's history – behind Cássio, Gylmar, and Dida. With Hugo Souza in goal, Corinthians returns to the field this Wednesday (17), at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), against Vasco, at the Neo Química Arena, for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final.

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