Corinthians keeper on Brazil starting hopes vs Japan friendly

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Central do Timão

·8 October 2025

Corinthians keeper on Brazil starting hopes vs Japan friendly

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Called up for the third consecutive time to the Brazilian National Team, Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza gave an exclusive interview to TNT Sports and was asked about the possibility of playing as the starting goalkeeper for the national team next Friday, October 14, against Japan, away from home, at 7:30 AM (Brasília time), in a friendly match in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

The possibility became evident after a statement from Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, indicating that Corinthians' number 1 could get playing time in this mentioned match: “It was something surprising. In the other call-ups, I trained very well, thank God, I always went there, managed to do my best in training, helped a lot, and I always go with the mindset to help, regardless of playing or not. I understand that today there were others who might have been ahead, and I needed to respect that moment, respect their moment, respect what they have built as well.”

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“Thank God, I have been able to fulfill the dream of being called up and playing is another one I want to achieve. And I am very happy with his (Carlo Ancelotti's) words, very happy with this moment, because this is the confirmation of everything that has already happened in my life and everything I have been doing every day here at the club. So, well, it was a pleasant surprise“, he began.

He then urged caution when asked if he already sees himself among the list of potential players for the national team for the 2026 World Cup: “Call-up by call-up, training by training, game by game. So, being there more and more is an opportunity. Playing here is an opportunity every time to show my work. I am very happy because there have been three (call-ups) in a row, so this gives me great confidence that my work is on the right track. And, well, I will work hard so that I can increase this list and, God willing, be in this call-up for the World Cup, which is everyone's dream, it's my dream, that's what I'm working for, and, God willing, we will be there,” he continued.

Hugo Souza will certainly be absent for the classic against Santos on the next October 15, at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), against Santos, at Vila Belmiro, for the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship, as he is suspended, in addition to the logistical issues of the time difference between Japan and Brazil. Therefore, his substitute in the Alvinegro classic should be Felipe Longo, born in 2005, who has not yet debuted in the main team.

“Longo, Kauê, (Matheus) Donelli. I joke with a tone of truth because literally, I can't give them an opening, because if I do, they will really surpass me. They raise my level daily in training, day by day, if it weren't for the quality they have. I wouldn't perform at my best. Longo was the starting goalkeeper for the U-20 national team in the South American championship, I believe he would be the starter now in the World Cup. So much so that they made an effort to take him, the club didn't release him due to club matters. So, if he has the opportunity to play now, I am sure he is prepared and I am sure he will work for it, for sure.“

Later, Corinthians' number 1 denied that his presence in the Brazilian National Team is solely due to him being a "penalty saver," as has been the case since he arrived at the Parque São Jorge club.

“Of course, penalties help, they help a lot because they bring a lot of visibility. But Hugo is not just that, right? Hugo is not just a penalty saver. And I think being part of the Brazilian national team context is not just that. It's not just that that will take you to the Brazilian national team, I strongly believe that the coach sees everything and is attentive to everything, and it's not just because Hugo saves during that he goes to the Brazilian national team, there are other qualities that make what he needs there. I strongly believe that the penalty factor helps, but I am very happy to hear the coach say this because I hear some things about it and literally, it was creating a thing that I was only going because of the penalties and it is. I am going because of my work and thank God it has been rewarded in the best way for that“, he concluded.

Hugo Souza joined Corinthians in the July 2024 transfer window – on loan from Flamengo – after a standout spell at Chaves, Portugal. He quickly became one of the leaders of the Corinthians squad, being a key player in the team's surge in the 2024 Brasileirão, which ended with a spot in the 2025 Pré-Libertadores.

The number 1 was also decisive in winning his only title so far with the club: the Campeonato Paulista. In the second leg of the final, he saved a penalty from midfielder Raphael Veiga and paved the way for the title to Parque São Jorge. Since his arrival, he has played 82 matches with the Corinthians jersey, all as a starter, with 41 wins, 22 draws, and 19 losses – a little over 58% success rate.

Check out other responses from the Corinthians goalkeeper below:

If he is experiencing the best year of his career and the possibility of winning the Copa do Brasil; the team faces Cruzeiro in the semifinal

“Individually speaking, I think it's already the best year of my career. So, I think there's this call-up. There's the next one in November. And the opportunity, God willing, to compete for a trophy and win. I think it would be historic. For me, individually speaking, it would be the best year of my career as it has already been. It would be historic for being able to win a title of such size and importance with the Corinthians jersey, which is something I really want. Because I think history is that. Making history is putting yourself out there, it's winning. Winning titles is seeking big titles. The Campeonato Paulista itself brought us the satisfaction of being part of the club's history. But I think winning a Copa do Brasil brings a very big weight. God willing, it will be for sure, as it has already been in my career.”

“Actually, yes, we know where we are. So, we are very happy to be in the Copa do Brasil semifinal with the opportunity to compete in a final and compete for a trophy. But we have to live game by game. It's one after the other here, it doesn't stop. So we don't have time to think ahead, because three times we are playing. We face Mirassol, we face Santos, we face another team, so we won't stop. Even because each game has a study, each game has a way of playing, each game has another player to study, a type of game to study. So when we get closer, we will certainly prepare in the best possible way so that we can, God willing, reach this final.”

Curiosity of the younger players about the day-to-day in the Brazilian National Team

“I think that, not only in this context of having returned to the national team, but the younger ones, the people here, they are always attentive. I stop to chat and talk with them. And that's cool, especially being able to bring this experience, this living from there to them. It's interesting too because it helps them grow, evolve, and their desire only increases because they will want to live with them one day too. So, I am happy because they want to absorb a lot for us here.”

Conversations with striker Gui Negão, 18 years old

“Certainly (it's a pleasant surprise). We are very happy for him. He's a phenomenal kid, like that. Always laughing, joking, always happy. I hit him a lot, right? I hit him a lot, I hit him a lot. I say, I'm hitting you, you're scoring goals, I'll keep giving you a hard time. So, like... But, like, he's a kid who deserves a lot. Not just him, all the guys who come up to train. Great kids and everyone very attentive to wanting to learn, everyone very attentive to wanting to listen. And I think that helps the process, right? We are also willing to help. Even though I'm young, I already play that role of the uncle of the little group.”

“So, for me, it's gratifying. I'm a guy who gets very happy seeing the victory of my neighbor. So, for me, it's very happy. I'm very happy to see that Gui is following this path of success. Because he, having success, we also have it, because he will be scoring goals. So, may he continue and may he continue with the head he has. He, with a good mentality, can continue to grow, learn, and help us.”

Does Corinthians choose games?

“Actually, I strongly believe that it's an opinion that, looking at the result, you can say yes, it happens. But it's not the way we face it, we athletes face it, it's not the way we enter the field. We enter the field to win all the games, we want to do our best in all the games. And there are games where things really don't fit, things don't happen the way we want. And it's normal, in a big game we are a little more refined, a little more attentive, but that doesn't take away the attention and importance due to the other games.”

“And in our championship, I believe there is no small game. It's a Brazilian championship of great quality, it's a very competitive, very fast-paced championship, and we can't give an opening. So I strongly believe there is no small game. Like, small. All games are big, all games have great importance, all games bring us victory, which if we win will give confidence, so, but I believe we can improve on that, face all games in the best way, the same way.”

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