Flavio and Eduardo Bolsonaro weaponize Brazil's World Cup loss to attack President Lula

Following Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the 2026 World Cup, deputies Flavio Bolsonaro (PL‑RJ) and Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL‑SP) posted on X accusing the ruling Workers' Party of ruining the nation's sporting success. Flavio wrote that Brazil "has never won anything" since the PT took power in 2002, while Eduardo invoked the "sina do 13" to link the loss to the party's election number. Analysts highlighted that the defeats stem from technical and tactical issues, not political leadership.

At the same time, Flavio was in the United States for a public hearing before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), where a possible 25% retaliatory tariff on Brazilian products is being discussed. Their social‑media barrage aimed to shift public attention from the trade negotiations to partisan criticism of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.