Brazil will face South Korea and Japan in friendly matches in October as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Tuesday.
The five-time world champions will meet South Korea in Seoul on October 10 and Japan in Tokyo on October 14.
Brazil has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup and will play Chile and Bolivia in its final two qualifiers next month.
CBF general coordinator Rodrigo Caetano mentioned that these friendlies are part of Carlo Ancelotti’s strategy to engage with teams from diverse backgrounds before the World Cup.
“Following the matches against South Korea and Japan, we plan to compete against African national teams in November and top European teams in March and June of 2026,” Caetano stated.
“We believe that encountering various football styles globally will provide valuable experience and challenges we might face at the World Cup,” he added.
Ancelotti expressed that these games would help him gain insights into the players’ traits and personalities ahead of next year’s expanded tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The 66-year-old Italian coach took charge of Brazil in May, having previously enjoyed success at Real Madrid.
Published on Aug 26, 2025