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Operation World Cup: the murder plot at the heart of Brazil’s trial of the century | Brazil
The conspirators used codenames to conceal their identities as they prepared for their mission: to plunge Brazil into chaos by assassinating a celebrity supreme court judge called Alexandre de Moraes.
On an encrypted messaging group, one plotter used the alias Brazil, another Japan and a third Austria.
“Each of them had the name of a team,” Moraes said this week as he denounced the alleged plot to murder him as part of an attempt to destroy South America’s largest democracy.
The group of football-loving would-be assassins abandoned their task at the last minute.
“I’m close to the position. Are you going to cancel the game?” the person codenamed Austria asked their associates on their Signal group at just before 9pm on 15 December 2022, as he lurked near Moraes’s home in Brazil’s capital, Brasília.
“Abort,” replied “Germany”, according to a federal police report.
The cinematic plot, nicknamed Operation Copa 2022 (Operation World Cup 2022) and involving at least six special forces troops, was at the heart of this week’s historic trial of Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro. He was on Thursday sentenced to 27 years in prison for trying to stage a coup after he lost the 2022 election to his leftwing opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula.
“[He tried to] annihilate the essential pillars of the democratic rule-of-law state,” said Moraes as he accused Bolsonaro of being the leader of a sprawling conspiracy, which included plans to assassinate Lula and the vice-president-elect, Geraldo Alckmin, to stop them taking power on 1 January 2023.
Moraes said hitmen had planned to “neutralise” him using “extremely powerful weapons” capable of piercing his bullet-proof car; they also allegedly considered killing Lula during a public event with poison or drugs that would cause organ failure.
“I’m someone who should be really thankful to be alive,” Lula said last year after the alleged poison plot was revealed.
Bolsonaro has denied engineering a coup or being involved in an assassination plot, calling such claims “a little story”.
But Moraes said there was “ample evidence” indicating the far-right politician was aware of Operation World Cup 2022, which the judge said was part of a larger intrigue called Green and Yellow Dagger.
Police investigators said a copy of the blueprint for a “clandestine operation” with “terrorist hallmarks” was printed out in the presidential palace on 6 December 2022 by an army general called Mário Fernandes. At the time Gen Fernandes, who was arrested last year, was a senior official in Bolsonaro’s administration.
“This [plan] wasn’t printed out in a cave. It wasn’t printed out hidden away in a room of terrorists. It was printed out in the presidential palace. It was printed out in the seat of the Brazilian government … at the same moment that president Jair Messias Bolsonaro was there,” Moraes told the court on Tuesday as Bolsonaro’s trial reached its conclusion.
“The planning is so detailed that it even details the chances of success, what the collateral damage might be, what weaponry should be used,” added Moraes.
A copy of the Green and Yellow Dagger plan, obtained by federal police investigators, suggests plotters planned to use an arsenal that included assault rifles, a belt-fed machine gun and even a Swedish anti-tank weapon, used on the battlefield in Ukraine. “These are weapons of war commonly used by combat groups,” the police report says.
According to the investigators, the plan to assassinate Moraes was aborted only because a court session was delayed – and, more importantly, the commanders of the army and air force refused to endorse Bolsonaro’s coup plot.
Brazil has had more than a dozen coup attempts since it became a republic in 1889 but none, so far as is known, involved a plan to assassinate those being deposed.
The historian Lucas Pedretti said that did not necessarily mean such plots had not existed. Rather, the 2022 plot had come to light because, for the first time in history, the coup plotters had been investigated and put on trial.
Pedretti said the existence of the assassination plan was “shocking, but not so surprising”. The historian, who studies Brazil’s brutal 1964-85 military dictatorship, said the armed forces still promoted internally the idea that the bloody regime was a “necessary and legitimate response” to a supposed communist threat.
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Brazil’s dictatorship 1964-1985
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How did it begin?
Brazil’s leftist president, João Goulart, was toppled in a coup in April 1964. General Humberto Castelo Branco became leader, political parties were banned, and the country was plunged into 21 years of military rule.
The repression intensified under Castelo Branco’s hardline successor, Artur da Costa e Silva, who took power in 1967. He was responsible for a notorious decree called AI-5 that gave him wide ranging dictatorial powers and kicked off the so-called “anos de chumbo” (years of lead), a bleak period of tyranny and violence which would last until 1974.
What happened during the dictatorship?
Supporters of Brazil’s 1964-1985 military regime – including Jair Bolsonaro – credit it with bringing security and stability to the South American country and masterminding a decade-long economic “miracle”.
It also pushed ahead with several pharaonic infrastructure projects including the still unfinished Trans-Amazonian highway and the eight-mile bridge across Rio’s Guanabara bay.
But the regime, while less notoriously violent than those in Argentina and Chile, was also responsible for murdering or killing hundreds of its opponents and imprisoning thousands more. Among those jailed and tortured were Brazil’s first female president, Dilma Rousseff, then a leftwing rebel.
It was also a period of severe censorship. Some of Brazil’s best-loved musicians – including Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso – went into exile in Europe, writing songs about their enforced departures.
How did it end?
Political exiles began returning to Brazil in 1979 after an amnesty law was passed that began to pave the way for the return of democracy.
But the pro-democracy “Diretas Já” (Direct elections now!) movement only hit its stride in 1984 with a series of vast and historic street rallies in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.
Civilian rule returned the following year and a new constitution was introduced in 1988. The following year Brazil held its first direct presidential election in nearly three decades.
“And this is particularly true in the case of the special forces,” he said, referring to the army group to which the men accused of plotting to kill Moraes, Lula and Alckmin belonged.
Police believe the men involved in the Moraes murder plot were special forces operatives known as the “kids pretos” or “black cap boys” because of the black caps they wore. Pedretti said the group, set up during the cold war, still maintained the same “enemy elimination mindset”.
“In Bolsonaro’s attempted coup, spearheaded by him and his generals, they simply put that logic and the expertise of the ‘kids pretos’ at the service of the coup-mongering political project,” Pedretti said.
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Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight: Results, winners, highlights, fight card, complete guide
Terence Crawford is crowding the history books. On Saturday, Crawford became the first three-division undisputed boxing champion of the four-belt era, overcoming his status as a marginal underdog to beat super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford moved up two weight classes to pursue greatness. The added muscle did not hamper him. Crawford implemented his signature speed and elusiveness with expert precision, dodging Alvarez’s bombs and returning fire in combinations. Crawford fearlessly took momentum back each time it seemed Alvarez was building towards something. The outcome: a unanimous decision win for “Bud.”
Crawford is already the inaugural two-division undisputed boxing champion, a feat since accomplished by Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk. Crawford once again set himself apart from his contemporaries by becoming the only person to achieve undisputed status in three weight classes. Beating Alvarez eclipsed his acclaimed 2023 win over Errol Spence Jr. Boxing politics often interfered in Crawford’s ability to secure major fights, but he scored a legacy-boosting box office win in Las Vegas.
Saturday’s undercard featured a memorable WBC interim super middleweight title clash between Christian M’billi and Lester Martinez. They brawled tooth-and-nail for 10 rounds. Their memorable performance ended in a draw, spurring anticipation for a rematch. The co-main event saw Callum Walsh improve to 15-0 against Fernando Vargas Jr.
CBS Sports was with you throughout fight week with the latest news, in-depth features and betting advice to consider. Thanks for stopping by.
Canelo vs. Crawford fight card, results
- Terence Crawford def. Canelo Alvarez (c) via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113)
- Callum Walsh def. Fernando Vargas Jr. via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 100-90)
- Christian M’billi (c) vs. Lester Martinez ends in a split draw (93-97, 96-94, 95-95)
- Mohammed Alakel def. Travis Crawford via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91 98-92)
Canelo vs. Crawford info
- Date: Sept. 13
- Location: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas
- Start time: 9 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: Netflix (subscription required)
Canelo vs. Crawford countdown
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No. 16 Texas A&M survives slugfest vs. No. 8 Notre Dame with game-winning drive: Takeaways
By Ralph Russo, Pete Sampson and David Ubben
Nate Boerkircher hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Marcel Reed with 13 seconds left, and No. 16 Texas A&M took advantage of No. 8 Notre Dame’s botched extra point to survive 41-40 on Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium.
Facing a ranked opponent for the second time early this season, the Fighting Irish (0-2) found themselves in another game that went down to the final possessions. Notre Dame lost 27-24 at Miami in Week 1.
Texas A&M (3-0) beat a ranked opponent on the road for the first time since late in the 2014 season, when the Aggies knocked off No. 3 Auburn.
INSANITY! TEXAS A&M SCORES THE WINNER ON 4TH AND GOAL! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iHtgqqkKwq
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 14, 2025
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ran for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter to cap a methodical 75-yard drive that included a fourth-and-1 conversion in field-goal range and gave Notre Dame a 40-34 lead. But holder Tyler Buchner dropped what looked like a solid snap, and the point after failed with an incomplete pass into the end zone by the backup quarterback.
A&M looked as if it answered immediately with Terry Bussey returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but a holding penalty on A&M brought it back and instead put the Aggies at their own 26 to start the drive with 2:41 left. They quickly drove into Notre Dame territory, and a holding penalty on Irish cornerback Christian Gray set up the Aggies with a first-and-goal at the 10 with 39 seconds left in regulation.
Three bad downs then set up fourth-and-goal from the 11 with 19 seconds left.
After a Notre Dame timeout, and with the home crowd blaring, Reed calmly bought some time and floated a pass to Boerkicher, who made the contested catch. A&M’s PAT was perfect, and Notre Dame didn’t have enough time to answer.
Notre Dame fell to 14-8 against ranked opponents under coach Marcus Freeman.
Marcel Reed’s flourishment
Texas A&M didn’t just win a game, it learned a lot about its offense and quarterback.
Last season, first-year starter Reed’s production spiked late in the season after a slow start. He looks like a much more developed passer in his second season.
Reed racked up a career-high 360 yards on 17-of-37 passing for his first career 300-yard game in the win against the nation’s runner-up a season ago, boasting two of the nation’s top corners in Leonard Moore and Gray. No completion was bigger than Reed’s scrambling touchdown pass — his second of the night — to tight end Boerkircher that gave the Aggies the win.
Reed was showing anticipation, throwing with accuracy and hitting throws he rarely hit consistently last year. And it helps that he’s got an upgraded group of speedy receivers in KC Concepcion from NC State, Mario Craver from Mississippi State and Bussey. Craver hauled in an 86-yard catch and run in the first half from Reed, who completed the pass rolling left. Craver’s seven-catch, 207-yard night made him the Aggies’ first 200-yard receiver since Mike Evans in 2013. That can’t happen with an improved passer like Reed.
Moore and Gray were battling injuries, but Reed is showing the kind of growth that gives A&M an offense balanced enough to contend for the SEC. — David Ubben, college football writer
And Notre Dame’s defensive decline
Notre Dame built last year’s run to the national championship game around its defense under coordinator Al Golden and a veteran spine that included two sixth-year seniors and a two-time All-American. It’s proving much harder to replace all that than Marcus Freeman would have expected.
The Irish were picked apart by Reed, who put Notre Dame in unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. By halftime, the Irish defense allowed the same number of touchdowns through six quarters (seven) as it did in the first six games of last season. Apparent injuries to cornerbacks Moore and Gray didn’t help. Neither did the Aggies’ speed at wide receiver, which got behind the Irish secondary all game.
The shock of Notre Dame’s defense taking this big of a step back this quickly should send up alarm bells, as first-year coordinator Chris Ash has yet to find the right formula for a defense expected to pick up where last year’s left off. The Irish didn’t sack Reed after taking down Carson Beck just once in the loss at Miami. Notre Dame forced its first turnover of the season but finished with just the Moore interception. And the Irish posted just two tackles for loss all night.
Notre Dame’s defense won’t be tested by speed like Texas A&M for the next month, perhaps not until USC visits on Oct. 18. But with a defense that’s putting some vexing material on tape, it’s not clear how much Notre Dame can rely on its defense moving forward.
Once a known quantity, the Irish defense is now a riddle that Ash needs to solve as soon as possible. Notre Dame won’t make the College Football Playoff unless he does. — Pete Sampson, Notre Dame beat writer
An offensive battle
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko was back at Notre Dame for the first time since he was the defensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish under Brian Kelly in 2017. He wasn’t happy with his Aggies in the first half, slinging a folding chair and lighting into his players on the bench after a Notre Dame touchdown to make it 14-7.
After a Notre Dame touchdown, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko tossed a chair while yelling at his defense.
Noah Eagle: That chair, we’re gonna have to check on. Because the well-being doesn’t appear to be super high. pic.twitter.com/ebwLITWkx9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2025
It didn’t get much better for either defense. The Aggies and Irish combined for 917 yards.
The first game of this home-and-home between the Irish and Aggies was a slugfest in College Station last year, too, won 23-13 by Notre Dame after Love broke off a late, long TD run.
In Texas A&M’s first trip to South Bend since 2000 on Saturday, the teams combined for 52 points in the first half, including three short rushing touchdowns by Le’Veon Moss that put the Aggies up 28-24.
Notre Dame opened the scoring by pulling out a trick it perfected last season: the blocked kick. Loghan Thomas smothered a punt on the first possession of the game, and Tae Johnson grabbed the bouncing ball in stride for a 20-yard touchdown return to begin what would be a heated offensive battle. — Ralph Russo, college football writer
(Photo: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Alvarez targeted the body with his left hook in the second, but Crawford used his speed and accuracy to tag the Guadalajara native upstairs.
The third saw Alvarez pressuring Crawford more, but “Bud” boxed effectively off his back foot, as he avoided any incoming fire to the head. Alvarez was landing his left hook to the body, but Crawford started adding some more offense in the fourth, confidently standing in the pocket and throwing. Alvarez responded with some of his best work of the fight, but Crawford was still in control.
Alvarez had his best round to this point in the fifth, as he boxed well from the outside and was busier with his attack, but it was Nebraska’s Crawford who regained control with strong efforts in the sixth and seventh stanzas.
As the eighth began, it was clear that Alvarez needed to start making a charge if he wanted to win the fight, and he had brief moments of success, but not enough to deter Crawford from his rhythm.
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