As the World Cup looms, football giants Brazil and France are set to clash in a glamorous friendly in the United States, offering a rare opportunity to gauge form, fitness, and tactical readiness ahead of the summer tournament.
The two sides, ranked fifth and third in the FIFA world rankings respectively, will meet on Thursday at Gillette Stadium near Boston, home of NFL’s New England Patriots. It will be their first encounter in 11 years; Brazil famously came from behind to beat France 3-1 in a 2015 friendly at the Stade de France, with goals from Oscar, Neymar, and Luiz Gustavo.
| Team | Coach | FIFA Ranking | Last Competitive Encounter | Notable Absentees | Key Players Present |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Carlo Ancelotti | 5 | 2022 World Cup QF vs Croatia (lost) | Neymar, Alisson Becker, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes | Vinicius Junior, Rayan (19, uncapped) |
| France | Didier Deschamps | 3 | 2006 World Cup QF vs Brazil (won 1-0) | William Saliba | Kylian Mbappe, Maxence Lacroix |
Brazil’s path to Qatar 2022 was rocky, finishing fifth in South American qualifiers with six losses in 18 matches. Now, under Carlo Ancelotti, they hope to mount a serious challenge for a record-extending sixth World Cup title, their first since 2002.
Neymar, 34, remains absent due to physical concerns, having not played for Brazil since October 2023. Speaking about the star forward, Ancelotti said:
“It is a physical issue, not technical. With the ball, he is brilliant, but he is not yet at 100 percent. He needs to continue working to reach that level.”
In Neymar’s absence, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is Brazil’s main attacking threat, while 19-year-old Bournemouth winger Rayan has earned a call-up after impressing in the Premier League since his January move from Vasco da Gama. Brazil will travel to Orlando on 31 March for a friendly against Croatia, a repeat of their 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit.
For France, the spotlight falls on Kylian Mbappe. The 27-year-old, returning from a knee injury, confirmed he is ready to feature after resuming play with Real Madrid last week:
“I have been following a protocol and am gradually returning. I hope to play during this international break and start making an impact again,” he said.
France have also made a late adjustment, with Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix replacing injured Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. Didier Deschamps, in his 14th and final year as head coach, will step down after the tournament, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to succeed him.
Historically, Brazil and France have produced memorable encounters, including the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, when France won 1-0 courtesy of Thierry Henry’s goal and Zidane’s commanding performance. Should both nations progress through the group stage as anticipated, a potential World Cup final meeting remains an enticing prospect. Thursday’s friendly offers the first real measure of their readiness.