By Louis Smith.
Arthur Elias has named his Brazil squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA Series, set to be played in Cuiabá.
Brazil will face South Korea, Zambia, and Canada as they continue their preparations for a home World Cup.
After a dominant 5–0 victory over Portugal in December, Brazil began 2026 in strong fashion with a 5–2 win over Costa Rica, thanks to goals from Kerolin, Jheniffer x2, Taina Maranhao, and Adriana Leal.
However, results quickly dipped as they suffered a 2–1 defeat to Venezuela, with an early red card proving costly, before falling to a narrow 1–0 loss against Mexico in their latest outing.
While the results have been mixed, these fixtures remain part of a broader preparation process, giving Brazil valuable opportunities to refine their approach ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
What is the FIFA Series?
The FIFA Series is an invitational tournament organised by FIFA, with its first edition held in March 2024. It provides teams from different confederations the opportunity to face each other in a mini-league, tournament-style format.
The aim is to add a competitive edge to international fixtures, creating unique matchups between sides that would not usually have the chance to play each other.
The 2024 edition of the FIFA Series featured the men’s competition, while 2026 marks the first women’s edition.
Brazil will play host, alongside the Ivory Coast, Thailand, and Kenya, providing a diverse range of opposition. For Brazil, it offers a valuable opportunity to compete in a tournament-style environment ahead of the World Cup, particularly with no qualification campaign required, making it ideal preparation.
The Squad
Elias’ squad includes nine domestically based players, alongside six based in the USA, four in Mexico, three in Spain, one in England, and one in Portugal.
Elias tested a variety of systems during the previous international window, opting for a 4-3-3 against Costa Rica and Venezuela, before switching to a back three against Mexico.
It is expected that he will take a similar approach in this window, continuing to alternate between a back three and a 4-3-3 system as he assesses his options ahead of the World Cup.
Compared to the previous squad, Elias has made a significant number of changes, with a total of 15 alterations, retaining only a small core of players, which include: Thaís Lima, Lauren, Yasmim, Thaís Ferreira, Duda Sampaio, Ana Vitória, Maiara Niehues, Taina Maranhão, Kerolin, Jheniffer, and Aline Gomes.
The squad includes two potential debutants who are yet to be capped, with Gi Fernandes, a right-back from Corinthians, and Raíssa Bahia, a 21-year-old currently playing for Palmeiras, both earning call-ups.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Thaís Lima made her debut in the last international break, highlighting the youth being introduced into the squad.
Brazil’s squad has a relatively young average age of just 24.8, meaning these fixtures will provide valuable experience as part of their 2027 World Cup preparations, particularly in front of a home crowd and in a tournament-style setting.
What the squad currently lacks is goals. Kerolin is the top scorer with 13, followed by Ary Borges with eight.
Goalkeepers:
Letícia Izidoro, Lorena, Thaís Lima
Defenders:
Thaís Ferreira, Yasmim, Vitória Calhau, Isa Haas, Mariza, Lauren, Raíssa Bahia, Gi Fernandes
Midfielders:
Ary Borges, Angelina, Ana Vitória, Duda Sampaio, Maiara Niehues
Forwards:
Ludmila, Gabi Portilho, Kerolin, Jheniffer, Marília, Gio Garbelini, Taina Maranhão, Aline Gomes