Fact check: The video shows Vinicius Jr. at a press conference where a cat appears on the table.

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 85/100

The video authentically shows Brazilian footballer Vinicius Jr. at a press conference in December 2022, where a cat unexpectedly appeared on the table and was subsequently removed by a press officer. This event is confirmed by 17 sources. The caption's claim about a 'Brazil's curse' related to this cat is a widely recognized popular belief and a recurring narrative among football fans, especially after Brazil's subsequent elimination from the 2022 World Cup and other tournaments.

Platform
threads
Source author
nabzz.1 — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.threads.com/@nabzz.1/post/DadBhiAChmd?xmt=AQG0kVVPpFg7XayCnix9v9-DZrPAU-y1nNv7RzN2-SgeUuelHUmElTPfe2O_-DzU9dJ4bMJs&slof=1
Verified on
July 6, 2026
Verification ID
bYquS1Uh1mbtsnkDbl_yGA

Original content reviewed

Platform: THREADS Author: @nabzz.1 --- Caption/Description --- Brazil’s curse will not end until they find this cat and apologise ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: THREADS Author: @nabzz.1 Person shown on screen (from video analysis): Vinicius Jr. What the video shows (from video analysis): A man in a blue shirt with a beard is sitting at a table with a cat on it. He picks up the cat and places it on the floor. Another man in a green shirt is sitting next to him, smiling and laughing. The background is a blue wall with various logos and text related to a football event. --- HOW TO VERIFY THIS (provenance-first) --- 1. SOURCE-TRACE: take the MOST DISTINCTIVE, verbatim details above — exact unusual quotes, named people/places/objects — and web-search them TOGETHER as a combination, alongside the subject/person shown and the topic, to find the ORIGINAL source of this clip (an official channel, the uploader, a news report). A combination of distinctive phrases has essentially ONE source on the web. 2. JUDGE FROM PROVENANCE: If a credible source (official account, established news outlet) documents this exact clip/event, it is a REAL, documented event — verify accordingly, and use that source to confirm WHO is shown. If after searching NO credible source corroborates an extraordinary or specific claim, state it CANNOT BE VERIFIED (and for a sensational claim lean toward not-credible). Do NOT default to "verified" on tangential, generic facts. 3. VIDEO AUTHENTICITY — decide it from VerifyMate's OWN forensic read of the ACTUAL frames (this analysis pass WATCHED the video), and NEVER from viewer comments. The read: "no strong signs of AI generation (confidence 0%)". Then SOURCE-TRACE the distinctive details (steps 1-2) to confirm whether this is a real, documented event before concluding it authentic. --- Caption/Description --- Brazil’s curse will not end until they find this cat and apologise --- Audio Transcript --- O alívio é, é para ter a tranquilidade para o p

Claims analyzed (3)

  1. verified: The video shows Vinicius Jr. at a press conference where a cat appears on the table.
    Multiple news outlets reported on a cat interrupting Vinicius Jr.'s press conference during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The video accurately depicts this event, showing Vinicius Jr. and a cat on the table, consistent with news reports and other video footage of the incident.
  2. verified: The video is an authentic recording, not AI-generated or recreated.
    The video exhibits characteristics of genuine footage, including natural movements, lighting, and human interactions. There are no strong signs of AI generation or manipulation. News reports from the time also feature similar footage, confirming its authenticity.
  3. unverifiable: Brazil’s curse will not end until they find this cat and apologise.
    This statement expresses a popular belief or superstition among football fans, particularly after Brazil's elimination from the 2022 World Cup following the cat incident. While the 'cat curse' is a widely discussed narrative, it is a superstitious interpretation of events rather than a verifiable fact. Brazil was indeed eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup after the press conference.

Sources consulted (18)

Related verifications

AI-generated analysis. Not a substitute for professional fact-checking.