Brazil – World Cup 2026
Expectations are high as Brazil enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the leading contenders to wrestle back the crown from Argentina.
Despite boasting a proud record of being the only nation to appear at every final tournament since its inception in 1930, the Selecao head into this summer’s edition on the back of their worst qualifying campaign in ages.
Read on as we offer a comprehensive guide to Brazil at the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Brazil at the 2026 World Cup
- Group: C
- Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
- Captain: Neymar
- Best finish: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
- Next match: Brazil vs Morocco
Drawn alongside Morocco (FIFA-ranked 8th), Haiti (83rd) and Scotland (43rd) in Group C, Brazil are the favourites to reach the knockouts as group winners.
However, after an underwhelming fifth-place finish in the CONMEBOL qualifying group, where they won fewer than half of their matches, the Selecao cannot afford to underestimate the challenge ahead.
Morocco will be eager to build on their stellar performances in Qatar four years ago, with many expecting them to fight Brazil for the top spot.
While it’s difficult to imagine Haiti causing Brazil too many problems in their first World Cup appearance since 1974, it will be intriguing to see what Scotland can offer as they return to football’s grandest stage for the first time this century.
Latest Brazil News
Brazil Fixtures
Brazil Results
Brazil World Cup 2026 Squad
| Player | Club | Position | Age | Caps | Goals |
| Alisson | Liverpool | Goalkeeper | 33 | 76 | 0 |
| Ederson | Fenerbahce | Goalkeeper | 32 | 31 | 0 |
| Weverton | Gremio | Goalkeeper | 38 | 10 | 0 |
| Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain | Defender | 32 | 104 | 7 |
| Danilo Luiz | Flamengo | Defender | 34 | 68 | 1 |
| Alex Sandro | Flamengo | Defender | 35 | 43 | 2 |
| Gabriel Magalhaes | Arsenal | Defender | 28 | 17 | 1 |
| Gleison Bremer | Juventus | Defender | 29 | 6 | 1 |
| Wesley Franca | Roma | Defender | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| Roger Ibanez | Al-Ahli | Defender | 27 | 5 | 0 |
| Douglas Santos | Zenit St Petersburg | Defender | 32 | 5 | 0 |
| Leo Pereira | Flamengo | Defender | 30 | 2 | 0 |
| Casemiro | Manchester United | Midfielder | 34 | 84 | 8 |
| Lucas Paqueta | Flamengo | Midfielder | 28 | 61 | 12 |
| Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle United | Midfielder | 28 | 41 | 2 |
| Fabinho | Al-Ittihad | Midfielder | 32 | 31 | 0 |
| Danilo Santos | Botafogo | Midfielder | 25 | 2 | 1 |
| Neymar | Santos | Forward | 34 | 128 | 79 |
| Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | Forward | 25 | 47 | 8 |
| Raphinha | Barcelona | Forward | 29 | 37 | 11 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | Forward | 24 | 22 | 4 |
| Matheus Cunha | Manchester United | Forward | 27 | 21 | 1 |
| Endrick | Lyon | Forward | 19 | 15 | 3 |
| Luiz Henrique | Zenit St Petersburg | Forward | 25 | 13 | 2 |
| Igor Thiago | Brentford | Forward | 24 | 2 | 1 |
| Rayan | Bournemouth | Forward | 19 | 1 | 0 |
Brazil Manager
With Brazil going through a rough patch, they need someone experienced in the dugout to navigate them through these troubled waters, and there’s no better man than one of the most decorated managers in world football.
Widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time, Carlo Ancelotti is looking for his crowning moment, having won everything there was to win in club football.
Although his early tenure has failed to produce the desired effect, the 66-year-old is a proven winner with the pedigree and authority required to guide Brazil back among the leading contenders on the international stage.
If there’s a man capable of maximising Brazil’s potential, it’s Ancelotti, whose wealth of experience and unrivalled trophy haul make him the ideal figure to lead the Selecao into a new era.
Route to the Final
If Brazil win their group:
- Round of 32: Monday, June 29: Brazil vs Group F runners-up
- Round of 16: Sunday, July 5: Brazil vs Group E runners-up/Group I runners-up
- Quarter-final: Saturday, July 11: Brazil vs England
- Semi-final: Wednesday, July 15: Brazil vs Argentina
- Final: Sunday, July 19: Brazil vs Spain
If Brazil are group runners-up:
- Round of 32: Monday, June 29: Brazil vs Group F winner
- Round of 16: Saturday, July 4: Brazil vs Spain
- Quarter-final: Thursday, July 9: Brazil vs Belgium
- Semi-final: Tuesday, July 14: Brazil vs France
- Final: Sunday, July 19: Brazil vs Argentina
Key Players
Marquinhos
Thiago Silva’s successor has established himself as a cornerstone of Brazil’s defence, forging a formidable partnership with Juventus stalwart Gleison Bremer.
In addition to his top-class defensive skills, Marquinhos’ technical ability has been crucial to Brazil’s build-up play, with the PSG captain often helping the Selecao progress the ball from the back with composure and precision.
Casemiro
Many Manchester United fans will be sad to see Casemiro leave at the end of the season, especially after the veteran rolled back the years with an outstanding campaign to help the club return to the Champions League.
If the 34-year-old can translate his remarkable club form onto the international stage, it could be a game-changer for Ancelotti’s men, as they lacked balance in the middle of the park during their unenviable qualifying campaign.
Vinicius Junior
Despite his turmoil at Real Madrid, Vinicius remains one of the world’s most skilled wingers, capable of turning a game on its head with his explosive pace, dazzling dribbling and a keen eye for goal.
When at his best, the diminutive superstar is virtually unplayable in one-on-one situations, giving defenders nightmares with his unpredictability and relentless attacking intent.
Raphinha
Fresh off winning another La Liga title with Barcelona, Raphinha will head into the tournament in high spirits, eager to carry his excellent club form onto the biggest football stage.
The left-footed forward has developed into one of the Selecao’s most reliable attacking outlets, but it’ll be exciting to see if he can co-exist with his bitter rival on the pitch.
Neymar
Neymar’s situation has been making headlines ever since Ancelotti first left him out of the squad earlier this year, casting doubt on his long-term prospects at the national team.
However, the former Barcelona and PSG megastar stands out in this star-studded squad thanks to his unrivalled ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
Brazil World Cup History
Brazil have won a record five World Cup titles and remain one of only two nations to have successfully defended their crown, achieving the feat in 1958 and 1962.
The Selecao’s most recent World Cup triumph came in 2002, with the legendary Ronaldo Nazario leading his country to a scintillating triumph in Japan and South Korea.
However, they have since failed to reach the final. Except for a fourth-place finish in 2014 on home soil, Brazil have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals in five of the last six editions.
That could change now, considering Brazil lifted their third world title in Mexico before reclaiming football’s biggest prize once again in 1994, when the tournament was hosted by the United States.
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1930 | Group stage | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| 1934 | Round of 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1938 | Third place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 11 |
| 1950 | Runners-up | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 6 |
| 1954 | Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| 1958 | Champions | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| 1962 | Champions | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 5 |
| 1966 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 1970 | Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 |
| 1974 | Fourth place | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| 1978 | Third place | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| 1982 | Second group stage | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 |
| 1986 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 1990 | Round of 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1994 | Champions | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| 1998 | Runners-up | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 |
| 2002 | Champions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| 2006 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| 2014 | Fourth place | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 14 |
| 2018 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| 2022 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
FAQs
Has Brazil won the World Cup?
Yes. Brazil won the World Cup five times, most recently in 2002.
Who is the Brazil manager?
Carlo Ancelotti. One of the most decorated managers in football history boasts five Champions League titles.
How did Brazil fare in the last World Cup?
Brazil reached the quarter-finals in Qatar. Croatia eliminated them on penalties.
Who has made the most appearances for Brazil?
Cafu. He won 142 caps from 1990 to 2006.
Who has scored the most goals for Brazil?
Neymar has netted 79 goals in 128 appearances.
World Cup 2026 Key Links
World Cup 2026 Preview
World Cup 2026 Fixtures & Results
World Cup 2026 Group Standings
World Cup Live Streams
World Cup All-Time Top Scorers
World Cup Host Stadiums & Cities
World Cup Winners
Recent Posts
- Argentina 2-1 England: Messi inspires comeback to send holders into World Cup final
- Michael Olise keen on Real Madrid move despite Bayern Munich stance
- Manchester United bag windfall from Mason Greenwood’s transfer to Fenerbahce
- Tuchel puts Bellingham issue to bed as he backs ‘world-class’ Real Madrid midfielder ahead of semi-final showdown vs Argentina
- Where did it all go wrong for France against Spain?
- Infantino controversy erupts, Kane seeking history-defining moment against Messi
- Bournemouth close to signing Antonio Silva from Benfica
- Newcastle transfer news: What is the latest on Bruno Guimaraes’ future?
- Cristian Romero expected to leave Tottenham this summer
- Xabi Alonso confirms he wants Enzo Fernandez to remain at Chelsea