📋 Brazil named to face France in first friendly of World Cup year

This is the five-time champions’ first friendly of the year of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Next Tuesday (31), at 9 p. m.

(Brasília time), Brazil faces Croatia (the team that knocked them out of the last World Cup) in Orlando, Florida, which has been the team’s base in the United States. Compared to the last match (a 1-1 draw with Tunisia in a friendly in November 2025), coach Carlo Ancelotti chose to keep only right-back Wesley, defensive midfielder Casemiro, and forwards Matheus Cunha and Vini Jr among the starters. Bremmer, Léo Pereira, Douglas Santos, and Andrey Santos are the big new additions in Brazil’s starting XI, which also features the experienced Ederson in goal and forwards Raphinha and Gabriel Martinelli in good form at Barcelona and Arsenal, respectively.

Without a full preparation cycle, the experienced Italian coach continues testing options in the national team, as seen in the call-ups of Gabriel Sara, Igor Thiago, Rayan, and Danilo. The French, current world runners-up and one of the favorites for the 2026 title, last played in November of last year, beating Azerbaijan 3-1 in the European qualifiers. After the match against Croatia, there will be only two more friendlies before the 2026 World Cup opener.

On May 31, the national team’s farewell at the Maracanã, against Panama, and on June 6, already in Cleveland, USA, to face Egypt. Brazil opens its World Cup campaign on June 13 against Morocco, in New Jersey, then faces Haiti in Philadelphia on June 19, and closes out the group stage against Scotland on June 24 in Miami. According to the pre-World Cup schedule, coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to send FIFA a preliminary list of 55 players on May 11, with the official list of the 26 called-up players to be submitted on May 18.