Brazil World Cup draw 2026: Group results, matches, fixtures, star players, roster and coach

Brazil are the most successful side in the competition with five titles and remain the only country to have featured at every World Cup. Despite their historic pedigree, the team has endured a prolonged dip in form and is now close to matching its longest drought without winning the tournament since their first triumph: 24 years, between 1970 and 1994 — and now between 2002 and 2026.

Their route to the next tournament, however, was anything but smooth. Brazil finished only fifth in South American qualifying. Since the last World Cup, the Selecao have gone through two permanent managers and an interim before Carlo Ancelotti finally took charge. Appointed in May 2025, the Italian appears to have steadied the ship and given the team a clearer identity.

Vinicius Junior remains the star attraction, even if he has yet to consistently match his Real Madrid form on the international stage. That has opened the door for Chelsea’s Estevao to emerge as the side’s main creative force. The 18-year-old is the top scorer of the “Ancelotti era” so far, with five goals in 11 appearances.

Among Brazilian fans and the local media, there is still uncertainty over whether Neymar will make next year’s World Cup. Despite his recent struggles, he is still regarded as the standout figure of his generation. The prevailing feeling is that if he’s fit, the former PSG and Barcelona star will remain firmly in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.

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Brazil World Cup draw group

This section will be updated when Brazil's group is announced during the draw.

Brazil World Cup table and fixtures

Brazil match schedule

Brazil all-time World Cup groups

Brazil World Cup snapshot

• Current FIFA world ranking:  No. 5 (December 2025)
• Regional ranking: 2nd (Conmebol)
• World Cup titles: 5
• World Cup appearances (last): 22 (2022)
• How qualified: 5th in South American Qualifying
• Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (ITA) since May 2025
• Key player(s): Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Estevao (Chelsea)

Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 preview

In terms of individual talent, Brazil’s squad remains one of the strongest in world football, featuring Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha and the recent emergence of Estêvão — the teenage star who will head into the World Cup at 19 and is the top scorer of the Ancelotti era so far, with four goals.

In defence, Alisson, despite his international reputation, is not universally trusted back home and has endured a string of fitness issues in recent years. As a result, he is likely to arrive in a weaker moment than he did in 2022. On the other hand, the back line is bolstered by the superb form of Gabriel Magalhães, the experience of Marquinhos, and the quality of Éder Militão.

Militão, in fact, is expected to play at right-back, with the full-back positions considered the soft spot of this Brazilian side. Carlo Ancelotti has tested several options, but none have truly convinced. Veteran Alex Sandro, formerly of Juventus and fresh off a 2026 Copa Libertadores title with Flamengo, is the frontrunner to start on the left.

In midfield, Casemiro has returned to the national team under Ancelotti and looks set to start his third World Cup. This time, he’ll be partnered by Bruno Guimarães of Newcastle United — the two players the manager trusts most to control the centre of the pitch.

• Star Players: Vinicius Jr, Raphinha and Casemiro
• Players to Watch: Estêvão and Gabriel Magalhães

Brazil World Cup squad

Since taking over the national team, Carlo Ancelotti has used a 4-2-4 formation in most matches, with a midfield duo of Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães and a very fluid attack where players constantly switch positions. Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., and Estêvão (who jumped the queue) are considered undisputed starters. The mystery lies in the fourth player: Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, and João Pedro are vying for that role.

In matches against more qualified opponents, however, the tendency is for the attack to lose a player, with Lucas Paquetá strengthening the midfield. Thus, the team approaches a more rigid 4-4-2 formation without the ball, with Paquetá marking on the left side, and a 4-3-3 formation with the ball.

Regular starting XI (formation: 4-2-4)

Alisson; Alex Sandro, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães e Éder Militão; Estêvão, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. E Matheus Cunha (João Pedro, Raphinha). 

Strengths:

• Attacking fluidity:  Brazil’s forwards constantly rotate positions. On the left, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. Are always switching — at times one drifts inside while the other stays wide, and then they swap again. Estevão is the most fixed piece on the right, but he can also tuck inside and operate as a No. 10. The fourth attacker, who plays closest to a No. 9, does not occupy a static role and links up across all areas of the final third.
   
• Penalty-box protection::  Brazil boast defenders of elite international level, with strong physical presence and dominance in the air. As a result, their centre-backs excel at clearing danger and turning their own box into a fortress. They also possess the technical quality to build from the back, break lines and play long passes.
   
• Depth:  Except the fullbacks, Brazil has good subs for all positions, what makes Ancelotti able to rotate the squad throughout the 2026 World Cup. 

Weaknesses: 

• Fullbacks:  While Brazil can claim major responsibility for redefining the modern fullback role (see Dani Alves and Roberto Carlos), their current wide defending is a vulnerability, often targeted by opposing wingers.
   
• Confidence:  This generation of the Selecao carries significant internal scepticism after recent World Cup failures. The team will have to withstand heavy scrutiny from fans and national media if they are to succeed on North American soil.

Who is Brazil's head coach?

None other than Carlo Ancelotti, one of the best coaches in the history of football. It could be said that Brazil has the best coach at the national team level, which is never a guarantee of results, of course. The 66-year-old Italian took over in May 2025 after a long negotiation that lasted more than a season and will be the first foreigner to manage Brazil in a World Cup.

• Manager (Nationality): Carlo Ancelotti (Italy)
• Date hired: June, 26, 2025
• Record as national team manager (W-L-D): 4-2-2
• Major titles since hire: -
• Notable victories: Brazil 3-0 Chile (South American Qualifying), South Korea 0-5 Brazil (Friendly)

Brazil World Cup qualifying results

Brazil secured its spot at the 2026 World Cup only in the antepenultimate round, with a 1–0 win over Paraguay. The performance is concerning when considering the context of the South American Qualifiers.

With the expanded 48-team World Cup, this was the first time that six teams qualified directly and the seventh went to the intercontinental playoff. Previously, however, four qualified directly and the fifth played the playoff. In other words, in a previous format, Brazil would not have qualified directly for the World Cup — something unprecedented in the history of Brazilian football.

Brazil FIFA World Cup history

No team has been more successful at the World Cup than Brazil over the long and storied history of the tournament. Indeed, their five championships make them the most successful national team in men’s soccer.

Brazil is a soccer-obsessed country and the World Cup has been their stage to demonstrate their brilliance for a number of decades. However, the Selecao is now going for 24 years without getting their hands on soccer’s most famous trophy, its longest drought without winning the tournament since 1970 to 1994.

Recent World Cup campaigns have been defined by disappointment, including in 2014 when Brazil only made the semifinals as the host nation and suffered a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany to go out. Despite their historic record, Brazil will have a point to prove in Qatar this winter.

• World Cups appearances: 22
• Best finish: Winner (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
• All-time goals scored: 237
• All-time goals conceded: 108
• All-time record (W-L-D): 76-19-19