In prelude to the 2026 World Cup, Brazil stumbles 2-1 against France

Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil was defeated 2-1 by Didier Deschamps' France this Thursday, March 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough (Massachusetts), in a friendly match preparing for the 2026 World Cup. The French opened the scoring thanks to Kylian Mbappé, followed by a second goal from Hugo Ekitike. Brazil narrowed the gap late in the match through Bremer, but failed to equalize before the end of the game.

The match took place in a very French atmosphere, with a strong presence of French supporters. Carlo Ancelotti tested new offensive combinations, while Didier Deschamps was able to integrate young talents like Ekitike into an experienced squad.

The first half was dominated by Les Bleus, who capitalized on a fine collective action with Mbappé (32nd minute). In the second half, Ekitike (65th minute) doubled the lead before Bremer (78th minute) reduced the score. Despite sustained Brazilian pressure, the Seleção did not find the back of the net a second time.

This match prepares both teams for the 2026 World Cup, organized in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Brazil will notably play against Croatia on April 1st, before joining Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. For France, this victory is a positive signal and a test of cohesion before the tournament.