Author: Barkha Roy
The Brazilian national team arrived in Belém on Monday 4th to prepare for their opening match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on the 8th at the Mangueirão Stadium.
Over the next three days – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – the Seleção will train at the Mangueirão, scheduled for 5.30pm (with press access for half an hour). The daily press conferences are scheduled for 7:30pm.
On Friday the 8th, the Brazilian team will face Bolivia in a match scheduled for 9.45pm. After the match, the team will have a break before regrouping on Saturday afternoon.
- On September 9, the team will leave for Lima at 17:00. Arrival in Peru is scheduled for 21:45.
- On September 10, at 6pm, a training session is scheduled at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium (Alianza Lima) with access for journalists. And a press conference at 20:00.
- On September 11, the official training session will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Peru’s National Stadium. Press conference at the end.
- Finally, on September 12 at 11pm, Brazil will play Peru.
The match against Bolivia will mark Fernando Diniz’s debut as coach of the national team. The current Fluminense coach will hold the post until mid-2024, when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) expects Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid to take over for the Copa America in the United States.
Meanwhile, Brazil have decided to exclude Manchester United winger Antony from their national team following allegations of misconduct raised by his ex-girlfriend. The Brazilian soccer federation has announced that the 23-year-old has been withdrawn from the team due to the emergence of “publicly known facts” that require further investigation. Antony is facing charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The St. Paul and Greater Manchester police departments are currently investigating these allegations.
In Antony’s official statement, he acknowledged the tumultuous nature of his previous relationship with his ex-partner. However, he firmly denied any involvement in acts of physical aggression. In a separate statement released in June, he claimed that he had been falsely accused of domestic violence by her. When contacted by BBC Sport, Manchester United refused to comment on the situation. Instead of the MU striker, Arsenal’s Gabi Jesus was called up to the national team.
The Brazilian national soccer team has announced its squad for the upcoming matches.
In the goalkeeping department, they have Alisson, from Liverpool, Lucas Perri, who represents Botafogo, and Ederson, who plays for Manchester City.
The team’s defense will be bolstered by a selection of skillful full-backs and defenders. The full-backs include Danilo, from Juventus, Vanderson, from Monaco, Caio Henrique, also from Monaco, and Renan Lodi, who currently plays for Marseille. In defense, Brazil called up Ibañez from Al-Ahli, Gabriel Magalhães from Arsenal, Marquinhos from PSG and Nino from Fluminense.
In midfield, the team has a strong line-up, with André, from Fluminense, Bruno Guimarães, who plays for Newcastle, the experienced Casemiro, currently at Manchester United, Joelinton, also from Newcastle, and Raphael Veiga, one of Palmeiras’ key players.
The attacking sector features some of Brazil’s best talent, with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli representing Arsenal, Matheus Cunha, who now plays for Wolverhampton, the iconic Neymar, currently at Al-Hilal, Richarlison, from Tottenham, Rodrygo, from Real Madrid, and Raphinha, who made his mark at Barcelona.