20 June 2024: The Copa America tournament kicks off in the USA, with Argentina defending its title and Brazil as its main rival. A total of 16 of the strongest teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF will compete.
The last two tournaments were held in Brazil in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, Brazil national football team beat Peru 3-1 in the final, while in 2021, they failed to defend their title, losing 0-1 to Argentina in the final.
Brazil at Copa America has a rich history, having clinched the title nine times and reaching the finals on 20 occasions. They currently hold the third position in terms of titles, with Argentina and Uruguay leading the pack with 15 victories each.
Uruguay played in 21 finals, and Argentina played in 29. Brazil’s dominance was particularly evident in the late 90s and early 2000s when they won four out of five tournaments – in 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2007.
Despite a slight dip in recent years, the Brazilians are entering the Copa America 2024 as strong contenders.
In this article, we examine the Brazilian national football team in greater detail. We will see which players have been selected by head coach Dorival Junior and which will be unavailable due to injuries or other reasons. We will also assess the national team’s potential and make a prediction.
Brazil’s 2024 Copa America Squad
After a series of underwhelming performances in recent tournaments, the Brazilian national team underwent a significant change in its coaching staff.
The 2022 World Cup, marked by disappointment, saw the departure of Tite, who had been the coach for six years. This led to a succession of coaches, with Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and finally, Dorival Junior taking the reins on 10 January 2024.
Brazil consistently boasts great talent, so it’s difficult for a head coach to assemble a winning line-up. Several players, including Neymar, have been ruled out due to injuries. The brightest star in Brazilian football is currently going through quite a slump.
After a less-than-successful performance in Paris, he went to Saudi Arabia, where he suffered an injury. Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, who was selected but clashed with Cristian Romero in training and suffered an eye injury, will also be missing.
As it prepares for the 2024 Copa America, the Brazilian national team will be without some key players. Richarlison, the team’s top scorer at the 2022 World Cup, is not in the new coach’s plans.
Manchester United’s Casemiro and players like Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United’s Antony will also be absent. In addition, Matheus Cunha, Fabricio Bruno, Pablo Maia, and Andre have been left out of the final squad.
The head coach of the Brazilian national football team has immediately selected the entire squad for the 2024 Copa America. Here you can see the full Brazilian national football team:
| Goalkeepers |
|---|
| Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Bento (Athletico Paranaense), Rafael (Sao Paulo) |
| Defenders |
|---|
| Guilherme Arana (Atletico MG), Lucas Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Gleison Bremer (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Danilo (Juventus), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Wendell (Porto) |
| Midfielders |
|---|
| Ederson (Atalanta), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Andreas Pereira (Fullham), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United) |
| Forwards |
|---|
| Endrick (Palmeiras), Evanilson (Porto), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Pepe (Porto), Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savio (Girona), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid) |
Brazil has several high-level footballers in every position, but it is worth noting that the generational change has left the team with a lack of veterans. There are Marquinhos and Danilo, who are 30 and 32 years old.
However, if we look at the forward line, it is dominated by extremely young and talented footballers. Vinicius Jr and Rodrigo are 23 years old, and Gabriel Martinelli is 22. The line-up also includes 17-year-old Endrick. Pepe and Raphinha are the oldest at 27 years old.
No player has played 100 games, with Marquinhos leading the list with 84. Neymar, 32, has played 128 games but will be out through injury. Casemiro will also be absent – 75 games, Richarlison – 48.
The upcoming Copa America tournament will be a crucial test for the Brazilian national team, especially considering their recent lack of major victories with this young squad.
This tournament, under the leadership of new coach Dorival Junior, will not only shape the team’s performance in the Copa America but also serve as a significant preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Most of the current squad is expected also to represent Brazil in the World Cup.
Also, read our article on Copa America’s history to learn about previous winners, highlights, and more.
FAQ
⚽ Who is Brazil national football team manager?
Dorival Junior is Brazil’s national football team manager.
⚽ Is Brazil the best football team?
Brazil is often considered one of the best football teams due to its record five World Cup victories and rich history of producing legendary players. However, the title of the best team can be subjective and varies based on current performance and recent tournament results.
⚽ What is the Brazil soccer team name?
The Brazil national soccer team is commonly known as “Seleção”, which means “The Selection” in Portuguese.
⚽ Why Brazil good at football?
Brazil excels at football due to a deep-rooted passion for the sport, which fosters early talent development and widespread participation. Brazil’s emphasis on creativity and flair, combined with a strong football infrastructure, produces consistently skilled and competitive players.
⚽ How many times Brazil won Copa America?
As of 2024, Brazil has won the Copa América nine times. Their victories came in the years 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, and 2019.
Brazil Copa America 2024 Predictions
Although the Brazilians are not in the best shape, they have more talent than other teams. Only Argentina can boast a squad at this level.
We have seen time and time again that it is not just the names on the pitch but the new coach with whom the new leaf of the Brazilian national football team will be turned that gives us optimism.
| ⚽ Brazil to win Group D @ 1.40 |
The Brazilians will play Colombia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica in the group. The teams are not very weak, so we should see the Brazilians concentrate from the first game. They lost against Colombia in the World Cup Qualifiers on 17 November 2023 and now will be the perfect opportunity to redeem themselves.
It should be between these two teams who will remain in first place in the group. The Brazilians are normally a high-scoring team, and even with a draw, they would have a good chance of winning the group thanks to the higher number of goals scored.
| ⚽ Brazil to reach Copa America final @ 1,91 |
The road to the final will be challenging for them, but it is certainly possible. The playoffs will be against Group C teams, including the USA at home, Uruguay, Panama, or Bolivia. The USA and Uruguay are the favourites in the group, and one will likely finish first and the other second.
This means that one will have to play in the quarter-finals, and the other, or Colombia, will have to play in the semi-finals. On paper, the Brazilians are more talented than all these teams. The last two Copa America finals have been reached, and now is the chance to play a third time.
The Brazilian national football team is going through a difficult period. Although Brazil has played in the last two Copa America finals, there was a gap of 12 years before that.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they beat South Korea 4-1 in the quarter-finals but lost to the Croatians in the quarter-finals after a series of 11m penalties. At the 2018 World Cup, the road to the title ended in the quarter-finals with a 1:2 defeat to Belgium.
Since being knocked out of the World Cup, the Brazilians have played 11 matches, five friendlies, and five qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. During this stretch, only four wins were achieved. There were two draws and five defeats.
Brazil lost to Morocco and Senegal in friendly matches and drew against Spain.
If friendlies are not decisive, even three defeats in the World Cup qualifiers do not bode well. In the five qualifying matches, one win was against Peru, and one draw against Venezuela.
The three defeats were against Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina, the main competitors in the upcoming 2024 Copa America tournament.
Brazil currently has six games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, seven points, and sixth place out of ten teams. The six teams will qualify for the tournament. The Brazilians’ chances of being among the first six qualifiers are very good, but we would like to see a much better game from such a talented team.