The veteran coach sparked discussion after joking that he hopes several Real Madrid players are eliminated from the tournament sooner rather than later so they can return to club duty in time for pre-season training.
Speaking on the BeastModeOn podcast, Mourinho admitted that while the World Cup is one of football's biggest spectacles, his priority remains having his players available and fully prepared for the upcoming campaign.
Real Madrid have a strong contingent of stars representing their countries at the tournament, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Aurelien Tchouameni, Antonio Rudiger and Marc Cucurella. With many of those players expected to make deep runs in the competition, there are concerns they could have limited recovery and preparation time before the new season begins.
Mourinho, however, addressed the situation with humour.
“What am I looking forward to in the World Cup? I want Real Madrid players to lose.
“Because I want them back for pre-season with me in July!”
The comments were clearly made in a light-hearted manner, reflecting a challenge faced by many top managers whose squads are packed with international stars. While success at the World Cup is a source of pride for clubs, it can also complicate pre-season planning, as players often return later and with less recovery time after lengthy international campaigns.
For Mourinho, the ideal scenario from a coaching perspective is simple: having as many players as possible available early enough to work on tactics, fitness and team chemistry before the start of the new season.
With the tournament entering its decisive stages, however, several of Madrid's biggest names remain among the favourites to challenge for football's ultimate prize, meaning Mourinho may have to wait a little longer before seeing his squad reunited.