Record winners Brazil come to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup not as the usual favourites to win the competition, as uncanny as it might sound, with the team looking to rebuild itself in the biggest tournament of all after going through a low point in their footballing history. That will have to happen with their injury-prone superstar Neymar in the squad after he was included in the roster for this summer, as they look to mix him with the current crop of talent despite huge question marks on his selection and carrying a calf problem. However, the Canaries have a top coach in Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, who is offering the nation a chance to dream again as he looks to leave a steady mark on the global stage after his eye-catching resume at the club level. Brazil will face two opponents they faced in the 1998 World Cup in France, Morocco and Scotland, with Haiti being the fourth member in Group C.
Brazil FIFA World Cup History
Brazil is the most storied side in the World Cup after lifting the trophy five times, more than any nation in the competition’s history. They have also played the most World Cup finals with seven and are the only side to have qualified for every single tournament since its adoption in 1930. It is a team that has led many to fall in love with the game through their mesmerising football and legendary individuals like Pelé, and on to modern-day stars like Neymar. The Selecao defined generations in the competition, like winning their first two trophies in 1958 and 1962, the 1970 victory in Mexico and the 1994 triumph on US soil. Their last silverware came at the turn of the century in 2002 in Japan, with South Korea as co-host, overturning their heartbreak of 1998.
However, since then, Brazil has gone on a sharp decline and failed to win the prestigious title that defined them so much, or even reach the final. They faced two quarterfinal exits in the next two editions despite being tagged the favourites. When the World Cup was hosted in Brazil for only the second time in its history, they made a run to the semifinals but suffered the historic 7-1 defeat to the eventual winners, Germany. The last two participations also ended in the last-eight stage, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There, they suffered heartbreak on penalties to Croatia after a 1-1 draw with Neymar incidentally scoring the last World Cup goal for Brazil.
Brazil Qualification and Preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026
The CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will go down as the worst ever for Brazilian football. The team finished as low as fifth, which in the previous format would have handed only an intercontinental playoff spot, but the expanded 48-team tournament allowed them to continue their streak of qualifying for every single World Cup edition directly without failure. However, it could have gotten worse if Ancelotti hadn’t been appointed at the crucial moment before the final qualifying games, as by then Brazil was struggling massively under Dorival Junior and just coming off a sour 4-1 thrashing by Messi-less Argentina.
After playing a goalless draw against the second-placed Ecuador in the Italian’s debut game, Brazil managed to beat a sturdy Paraguay side through a strike from Vinícius Júnior to book their spot in the World Cup this summer, clearing all uncertainty of the team not making it, which would have been hugely damaging for the nation. However, their 1-0 loss to Bolivia in the final qualifying game gave them a reality check, despite the side wrapping up their qualification before, with the defeat coming away in the extreme condition of the high altitude. Brazil ended the qualifiers with their lowest-ever points tally of 28, losing the most games in their qualification history with six, including the first time in Brazil's football history that they had lost a qualifier match played in their own country against rivals Argentina. More in details: How Brazil Qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup
However, the doom and gloom of the World Cup qualifiers cleared away a bit when they snatched a 5-0 victory over South Korea in the preparation friendlies and a 2-0 win against Senegal, with a first loss to Japan in history sandwiched in between, despite them taking a two-goal lead in the game. Ending 2025 with a draw against Tunisia, they started 2026 on a disappointing note with a 2-1 defeat to France. That result showed the team is still miles away from giving a proper challenge to the latest World Cup favourites, with the Selecao only able to pressure La Blues when their opposition went down to 10. Otherwise, France was the utterly dominant side. Still, Ancelotti were able to recover and claim a revenge-seeking 3-1 victory over Croatia for their past World Cup exit. Brazil will face Panama and Egypt in line with their group opponents just before the tournament.
Brazil took on Panama and Egypt in line with their group opponents just before the tournament. Although they won both the games, it brought up a lot of issues for the team. The Selecao won 6-2 against the CONCACAF nation, but the scoreline tells half the story. Ancelotti’s side struggled massively with a front four, even though it gave them more offensive threat. The attack looked a bit disjointed, relying on Raphinha and Vinicius Jr’s individual qualities and no real chemistry. However, the bigger issue the midfield was left exposed with Panama eye-catchingly dominating possession against Brazil. The second-half of the friendly game was much better when the system was tweaked with a midfield three and personnel changes. It made them more compact, but then problems emerged again, when they were left open several times, in the 2-1 win against Egypt in the final friendly before the World Cup.
Brazil Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Bento (Al Nassr)
Defenders: Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Marquinhos (PSG), Ibañez (Al-Ahli), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Wesley (Roma), Kaiki Bruno (Cruzeiro), Alex Sandro (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray), Andrey Santos (Chelsea)
Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Endrick (Lyon), Raphinha (Barcelona), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Rayan (Bournemouth)
Head Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Arguably, the biggest call in the Brazil squad selection is the inclusion of Neymar, ending long speculation about whether Carlo Ancelotti would include him in the 2026 World Cup squad. The former Barcelona and PSG star has not played for his national team since October 2023 due to a horror injury spell. He tore his ACL in the qualifying game against Uruguay in that month and managed just seven games with Saudi giants Al-Hilal in two years. His injury trouble continued as he returned to his boyhood club, Santos, back in Brazil, but he had a resurgence in form lately. That might have caught Ancelotti's eye, or reflected the natural pressure from his surroundings to include the superstar, which led to this decision, because earlier the Italian boss stated that Neymar would be included only if he was in his proper physical condition. However, the player arrives with a calf injury that will keep him out of the World Cup opener.
The shocking exclusion from the squad was, however, of Joao Pedro, who had an excellent debut campaign with Chelsea, even in a poor season for the club, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. Having fallen out of favour in his time at Real Madrid, Endrick, on loan at Lyon, has been called on by Ancelotti, while Premier League’s rising stars of the past season, Igor Thiago and Rayan, who made their national team debut in the March friendlies, are also included. Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara also made his debut along with them and is now part of the World Cup roster after an impressive season with the Turkish giants. There are 11-players in the 26-man roster for Brazil who will play their first World Cup, including Arsenal’s star centre-back Gabriel Magalhães and Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha, who might be tasked with the centre-forward role for the side. The major injury absentee in the squad is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who tore his ACL in March and will be out until December this year.
Strengths of Brazil Football Team
Very few teams could boast a star-studded attack like Brazil. Moreover, they contain players who are world-class in their role and also the face of their respective clubs. Vinícius Júnior is synonymous with Real Madrid and Raphinha, if not the poster boy of Barcelona, is one of the most charismatic characters out there. Their blistering pace, creativity and insane skills, along with prodigies like Endrick, will be calamitous to opposition defences. Adding Neymar, even though he is still working on his way to full fitness, brings a different dimension to the attack because of his versatility in playing anywhere on the forward line with his gifted talent. His experience will also be key and his presence in that dressing room is a gigantic liftoff not only for the players but for an entire nation, which is huge for motivation in a tournament like this. Similarly, players like Casemiro and Marquinhos will provide the necessary blend of experience and youth in the squad. They have a serial winner in coach Carlo Ancelotti, who made an immediate impact by silencing the cries of Brazil missing the World Cup for the first time in history as he brought a new direction and energy to the team at a time it was badly needed.
Weaknesses of Brazil Football Team
While his presence is charming, utilising Neymar properly is the biggest headache for this Brazilian squad. He won’t be able to start every World Cup game like before because of his deteriorated physical condition, but when he is available, there is a doubt that he will be able to offer the same magic, which is already asking too much in his current state at this level. The 34-year-old could be a disruptive figure in the squad, not in a toxic sense, but adding unwanted pressure as everything will be centred around him, which could halt other stars from expressing themselves fully. His lack of defensive contribution and now a lack of work ethic because of his condition could be detrimental. Moreover, he has suffered a calf injury only a day before the squad selection, which has also ruled him out for the pre-World Cup friendlies and the tournament opener against Morocco. It is a major doubt now whether he will be able to play for long stretches in games. That will complicate things further and raise more questions over his selection.
There is also a fitness concern in the goalkeeping position as number one Alisson has missed a big chunk of last season with Liverpool through injuries. The midfield and full-backs are the weakest areas of the side. Despite having a fantastic final season with Manchester United, Brazil are still relying on a 34-year-old Casemiro to do all the running in midfield, especially in the extreme heat conditions, with his replacements being Fabinho, well past his prime and playing in the Saudi league and an inexperienced Andrey Santos at this level. Gone are the days of Cafu, Dani Alves or Marcelo as the Selecao will have to rely on either an aged Danilo or clubmate Alex Sandro or the less-capped Douglas Santos to anchor the flank. It makes the defence a little bit shaky for the side, even though they have a solid centre-back pairing. The final thing is whether the team could be mentally strong with so many deficiencies to get them over the line.
Key player: Vinícius Júnior
With or without Neymar’s call-up to the squad, Vinícius Júnior remains an important player for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. Refounding his form with Real Madrid in the past season and reestablishing his status as the player for the big games, the 25-year-old is determined to translate his club form to the national side, finally, after often being criticised for not doing so and there is no greater tournament than the World Cup to prove himself. The mere three-goal contribution in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for a player of his quality is not great, so he needs to step up his game. With Barcelona’s Raphinha coming off an injury-prone season, the onus is on the left winger to be the dangerous weapon for Brazil going forward.
Vinícius should use his assets of explosive pace and goal-scoring ability to the full extent and build fantastic chemistry with his teammates upfront for his team’s success at the major event this summer. The Flamengo product also had a great relationship with manager Ancelotti, as he experienced the best days of his career under him and also found form with the national team when the Italian stepped in. With the narrative circling Neymar, it is a challenge for Vinícius to produce the goods, so the focus remains on the achievement on the pitch for Brazil and that he remains the prime contributor to it.
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti became the foreign coach for Brazil in a century when he took charge in May last year, following the dismissal of Dorival Junior after a crushing loss to rivals Argentina. It is the Italian’s first national team job of his 34-year illustrious managerial career, where he became one of the best in the business. However, he is not completely a newbie at the international stage, as his previous experience serving as an assistant coach for his home nation, Italy, for four years, before his foray into senior coaching. His appointment was heavily rumoured for years and it came at a time when the record winners needed a character to bail them out of a tough situation where they had a real risk of missing out on the tournament they are synonymous with.
Accomplishing it, Ancelotti now has the task of winning the whole thing, that too in the biggest World Cup of all, although his recent four-year contract from the earlier one-year suggest that he doesn’t have that pressure anymore should he fail. However, he has to produce a performance of such magnitude out of this team that will instil hope that Brazil are close to their glory days. Having already shown his calibre at the club level, especially in the Champions League, with an iconic name being the tournament’s most successful coach, he is the one man the nation can rely on.
How will Brazil Lineup at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Ancelotti has used several formations or switched them in-game, but the 4-2-3-1 looks to be able to accommodate every required star on the frontline. Certainly, Neymar won’t start most games for Brazil and is injured for the first game anyway, so he is most likely to be utilised as an impact substitute. Either way, this formation suits him well, playing behind the centre-forward and even if he doesn’t play, Lucas Paquetá, now at Flamengo, could slot into the number 10 role. The midfield duo of Newcastle United star Bruno Guimares and the evergreen Casemiro will hold the balance and take up the defensive responsibilities as the attack does its job. Cunha is not an out-and-out number nine and Brazil could use his interchange of positions and combination play with Vinícius Júnior or Raphinha to fantastic effect. Otherwise, the team could turn to Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who had a breakout season in the Premier League, only finishing behind Erling Haaland in the scoring chart, or the 19-year-old Endrick, who again proved his talent in a remarkable loan spell with Lyon. However, the biggest area of concern will be the goalkeeper position as to whether Alisson will be able to maintain his world-class reflexes with so many injury disruptions, as Ederson, now at Fenerbache, is massively out of form and Bento has not played in a major competition for Brazil, yet is not likely to displace him from being the number one.
Brazil Group C Fixtures and Opposition in FIFA World Cup 2026
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Brazil v Morocco - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (03:30)
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Brazil v Haiti - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (06:00)
Saturday, 25 June 2026
Scotland v Brazil - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (03:30)
Brazil will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign with a massive game against last edition’s surprise package and declared AFCON champions Morocco on 14 June 2026 in a rematch of their 1998 meeting in East Rutherford Stadium, the tournament’s final venue, which will set the tone for the tournament for the side. Their next game is against the minnows, Haiti, in Philadelphia on 20 June 2026, before they close out the group stages, facing another opponent from that edition in France 28 years ago, Scotland on 25 June 2026.
Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 Prediction
Even if they maintained their streak of qualifying for every World Cup, Brazil are coming off an awful qualifying campaign, but that was also the case when they won this tournament the last time in 2002. Although not as bad as fifth this time, they finished third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers back then and went on to win the whole thing with less pressure riding on them. The current squad could similarly find motivation, with most not giving them the chance to go deeper into the competition, let alone winning the Cup. However, this side, even though extremely talented at least in the attack, is nothing like the class of 2002 and has lost the identity of ‘Jogo Bonito’ or the beautiful football Brazil has stemmed their legacy with. The Neymar dependency has stifled the team in the previous edition and they have the player in much worse shape this time. But they have a manager who is an ultimate tournament coach and has won silverware in unexpected scenarios. The Selecao are drawn in a difficult group with Morocco, Scotland and to some extent, Haiti, which could be tricky opponents to face.
However, it is still not a group that Brazil cannot win or at least finish in the top two. Eight third-placed teams are also going into the new last-32 round after the expansion of the competition, but Ancelotti’s men won’t buy into going with that route. Despite their difficulties, they should be good enough to prevail, having not been grouped in the competition since 1966. However, the real test will be in the knockouts as they have a tricky pathway there. The challenge is extreme from the Round of 32 stage itself, as they are likely to face Sweden or Japan, having lost to them in recent friendlies from Group F, if not the Netherlands, provided they win Group C, otherwise, colliding with the Dutch looks more likely. Regardless, Senegal, Norway or France and even Germany could be welcoming them in the last-16 stage, provided the latter two do not win their groups. If they reach the quarterfinals and avoid big guns like England or a possible reunion with Croatia at that stage, the possibility is they can reach the semifinals, which will be a massive achievement for this group.
