Brazil is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup, the main football international competition, crowned winner five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Being the only national team to have won the World Cup on four different continents, Brazil is a tough opponent to beat. Brazil also has the best overall performance in the World Cup with a record of 70 victories in 104 matches played, 119 goals, 227 points, and 17 losses. They’re the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence or need for playoffs. The seleção (portuguese name to “national team”) is the most successful national team in the FIFA Confederations Cup with four titles: 1997, 2005, 2009 and 2013.

First game: Brazil vs Switzerland (17/06)

Star: Neymar Jr

The most-expensive player in the game’s history, Neymar, born on February 5, 1992, in São Paulo, Brazil, where he drew attention for his impressive soccer abilities at an early age. With 53 goals in 83 matches for Brazil, since debuting at age 18, Neymar is the fourth-highest goalscorer for his national team. He was a key player in Brazil’s victories at the 2011 South American Youth Championship, which he finished as the leading goalscorer. His participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 Copa America was cut short by injury and a suspension respectively, but the next year he captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Known for his dribbling, finishing, and ability with both feet, Neymar has earned comparisons to former Brazil and Santos forward Pelé.

 

Coach: Tite

In June 2016, Tite was announced as the new coach for the Brazil national team to replace Dunga. In Tite’s first match in charge of Brazil, a 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on 1 September 2016, Brazil prevailed 3–0. He would then lead his team to seven consecutive victories in qualifying matches, eventually securing a spot at the World Cup in Russia, making them the first team to qualify for the tournament, apart from the hosts. On 14 May 2018, Tite announced 23 men brazilian squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

 

Group: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.