Brazil look to youth as they start 2027 World Cup buildup with Lionesses fixture | Brazil women’s football team

The road to the 2027 World Cup is long and winding for all teams hoping to qualify – apart from the hosts, Brazil. Having won their ninth Copa América Femenina in the summer, their next major tournament will be the World Cup in 20 months.

That may seem like a long time but the head coach, Arthur Elias, is aware that every minute of preparation counts, starting with their friendlies against England in Manchester on Saturday and then Italy in Parma on Tuesday.

By facing European opposition, Elias hopes his players will be able to test themselves in different conditions and against different playing styles to those most of them experience back home. It is also an opportunity to test themselves against one of the best teams in the world. “These games are really important for us to see how we behave collectively when facing different teams with different styles,†he said at the squad announcement. “We are at a stage where we are consolidating our team identity.

“Weâ€re playing against two great European teams. England have won the past two Euros and Italy reached the semis last time around and played really well. We have taken that into account when we selected this squad. We want to give opportunities to younger payers. Our average age is now 24 years old, which we think is ideal when looking ahead to 2027.â€

Elias does not have all his key players available. He was expecting to be without Real Madridâ€s Antônia and Manchester Cityâ€s Kerolin because of injuries but since the squad announcement he has also lost Atlético Madridâ€s Gio Garbelini and her replacement, Debinha of KC Current. São Pauloâ€s 22-year-old forward Isabelle Caroline has been called up.

Arthur Elias led his side to a 2-1 victory over the United States in April after a stoppage time winner. It was Brazilâ€s first win over the Americans in 11 years. Photograph: Erin Chang/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

Elias received international recognition in 2024 when he took Brazil to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and was one of three finalists for The Best Fifa Womenâ€s coach, finishing only behind Englandâ€s Sarina Wiegman and Barcelonaâ€s Jonatan Giráldez.

Since their achievement at the Olympics, Brazilian players have had more visibility abroad with record transfers to the NWSL as well as European leagues. The 24-year-old Isabela Chagas may make her senior national team debut against England after completing a €300,000 (£260,000) move from Cruzeiro to Paris Saint-Germain, a record sale for the Brazilian team.

The trajectory is clearly upwards but the game against the Lionesses at the Etihad Stadium will be a challenge. “England are a team we studied quite well, and will test us at the highest level,†Elias says. “They will test our attack, since they have a good, compact defence, and we will need to worry about the quality of their attacking players. Having said that, they will have to deal with our quality too.â€

The last time the two teams faced each other was in 2023 for the inaugural Womenâ€s Finalissima – between the Copa América and Euro champions – with England winning on penalties after a pulsating 1-1 draw. Back then, Brazil were coached by Pia Sundhage who liked to play with a back five.

Kerolin, seen here evading a challenge from Ella Toone during the 2023 Womenâ€s Finalissima match, will miss Brazilâ€s return to England after picking up an injury last month. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Expect a more proactive attacking approach under Elias. His teams may vary in style but they consistently look to get on the front foot. It can leave them exposed, though, as happened in the Copa América final against Colombia, where they scored four but conceded as many and needed penalties to secure the win. “England and Italy have very different styles,†he says “and facing them in such a short period of time is a challenge. We will need, in one training session, to put a different system in place, with different players†characteristics, so we can win both games.â€

At the moment, with 20 months still to go before a home World Cup, Eliasâ€s plan is to test his team as much as possible. He wants to consolidate a squad, but also create options for the future of the Brazilian national team. “We have made 10 changes to the team that just won the Copa América. I believe that is a good place to be for our preparation for 2027.â€

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