Brazil national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Brazil

Nickname(s)	Seleção (The Selection) Canarinho (Little Canary) Amarelinha (Little Yellow) Verde-Amarela (Green-Yellow)
Association	Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (Brazilian Football Confederation)
Confederation	CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach	Dorival Júnior
Captain	Danilo
Most caps	Cafu (142)
Top scorer	Neymar (79)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	BRA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	3 (7 February 2019)
Highest	1 (159 times on 8 occasions)
Lowest	22 (6 June 2013)
Elo ranking
Current	1 (3 March 2019)
Highest	1 (8,640 days on 40 occasions)
Lowest	20 (7 November 2001)
First international
Argentina 3–0 Brazil  (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 20 September 1914)
Biggest win
Brazil 10–1 Bolivia  (São Paulo, Brazil; 10 April 1949)  Brazil 9–0 Colombia  (Lima, Peru; 24 March 1957)
Biggest defeat
Uruguay 6−0 Brazil  (Viña del Mar, Chile; 18 September 1920)  Brazil 1−7 Germany  (Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 8 July 2014)
World Cup
Appearances	22 (first in 1930)
Best result	Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Copa América
Appearances	38 (first in 1916)
Best result	Champions (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019)
Panamerican Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 1952)
Best result	Champions (1952, 1956)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1996)
Best result	Runners-up (1996, 2003)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	7 (first in 1997)
Best result	Champions (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Medal record FIFA World Cup Gold 1958 Sweden Team Gold 1962 Chile Team Gold 1970 Mexico Team Gold 1994 United States Team Gold 2002 Korea & Japan Team Silver 1950 Brazil Team Silver 1998 France Team Bronze 1938 France Team Bronze 1978 Argentina Team Copa América Gold 1919 Brazil Team Gold 1922 Brazil Team Gold 1949 Brazil Team Gold 1989 Brazil Team Gold 1997 Bolivia Team Gold 1999 Paraguay Team Gold 2004 Peru Team Gold 2007 Venezuela Team Gold 2019 Brazil Team Silver 1921 Argentina Team Silver 1925 Argentina Team Silver 1937 Argentina Team Silver 1945 Chile Team Silver 1946 Argentina Team Silver 1953 Peru Team Silver 1957 Peru Team Silver 1959 Argentina Team Silver 1983 South America Team Silver 1991 Chile Team Silver 1995 Uruguay Team Silver 2021 Brazil Team Bronze 1916 Argentina Team Bronze 1917 Uruguay Team Bronze 1920 Chile Team Bronze 1942 Uruguay Team Bronze 1959 Ecuador Team Bronze 1975 South America Team Bronze 1979 South America Team Panamerican Championship Gold 1952 Chile Team Gold 1956 Mexico Team Silver 1960 Costa Rica Team CONCACAF Gold Cup Silver 1996 United States Team Silver 2003 United States & Mexico Team Bronze 1998 United States Team FIFA Confederations Cup Gold 1997 Saudi Arabia Team Gold 2005 Germany Team Gold 2009 South Africa Team Gold 2013 Brazil Team Silver 1999 Mexico Team Olympic Games Silver 1984 Los Angeles Team Silver 1988 Seoul Team

The Brazil national football team is often called Seleção Canarinho (meaning "Canary Squad"). This nickname comes from their bright yellow jerseys, like a little canary bird! The team plays for Brazil in international football games. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) manages the team.

Brazil is the most successful team in the FIFA World Cup. They have won the World Cup five times! These wins happened in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. They are the only team to have played in every World Cup tournament. They are also the only team to win the World Cup on four different continents.

The Seleção has won the now-closed FIFA Confederations Cup four times. They won in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013. After winning the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil became one of only two countries to win all men's FIFA competitions at all age levels.

Brazil often ranks very high in world football. Many experts think the 1970 Brazil team was the best football team ever. Other great Brazilian teams include those from 1958-62 and 1994-2002. In 1996, Brazil set a world record by playing 35 games in a row without losing!

Brazil has some big rivalries. Their biggest rivals are Argentina, a match known as the Superclássico das Américas. They also have rivalries with Italy, Uruguay, and the Netherlands.

History of Brazil's Football Journey

How Brazil's Team Started (1914–1922)

The first Brazil national team, 1914

Brazil's first match at home against Exeter City in 1914

The first game for the Brazil national football team was likely in 1914. It was against an English club called Exeter City. Brazil won 2-0.

At first, the team wasn't super strong. They played friendly games against Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. But with Arthur Friedenreich scoring many goals, they won the South American Championships at home in 1919 and again in 1922.

Early World Cups and Tough Times (1930–1949)

In 1930, Brazil played in the very first World Cup in Uruguay. They won one game but lost another and were out early. In 1934, they lost in the first round. But in 1938, they reached the semi-finals, losing to Italy. Brazil was the only South American team there.

In 1949, Brazil finally won an official title again, the 1949 South American Championship. This ended a 27-year wait for a major trophy.

The Sad "Maracanazo" of 1950

Brazil national team at the 1950 World Cup.

Brazil hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup. They only needed a draw in the last game against Uruguay to win the Cup. But Uruguay won the match in a shocking upset. This game is known as "the Maracanazo" and caused a lot of sadness in Brazil.

For the 1954 World Cup, Brazil changed their uniform colors from all white to the famous yellow, blue, and green. This was to help them forget the "Maracanazo." They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Hungary in a very rough game.

Pelé and Brazil's First Golden Age (1958–1970)

The Brazil national team at the 1959 Copa América

In the 1958 World Cup, Brazil had amazing players like Pelé and Garrincha. They beat Austria, drew with England, and then beat the Soviet Union. Pelé scored the only goal against Wales in the quarter-final. They then beat France 5-2 in the semi-final.

In the final, Brazil beat Sweden 5-2. This was Brazil's first World Cup win! They were the first country to win a World Cup outside their own continent.

Defending champions Brazil at the 1962 FIFA World Cup

Brazil won their second World Cup in 1962. Garrincha became the main star after Pelé got injured early in the tournament.

The 1966 World Cup was tough for Brazil. Pelé was fouled a lot and had to leave the tournament. Brazil lost and was knocked out in the first round. This was their worst World Cup performance.

The 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning Brazil team, considered by many distinguished commentators as the greatest football team ever

Brazil won their third World Cup in 1970 in Mexico. This team is often called the greatest World Cup team ever. It included legends like Pelé, captain Carlos Alberto Torres, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, and Rivellino. They won all six of their games, scoring many goals. Jairzinho scored in every match, a unique achievement! Brazil got to keep the original Jules Rimet trophy because they won it three times.

A Period Without Wins (1974–1990)

After Pelé retired, Brazil had a harder time. In the 1974 World Cup, they finished fourth.

In the 1978 World Cup, Brazil finished third. They were the only team in the tournament that didn't lose a single game!

The 1982 World Cup team was a favorite to win. They played beautiful football with stars like Sócrates and Zico. But they lost a classic match 3-2 to Italy and were eliminated. Many people remember this team as the greatest team that never won the World Cup.

In the 1986 World Cup, Brazil reached the quarter-finals. They lost to France in a penalty shootout.

Brazil finally won an official championship again in 1989, after 19 years. This was their fourth Copa América title.

At the 1990 World Cup, Brazil played a more defensive style. They lost to their rivals Argentina in the second round.

Brazil's Second Golden Age (1994–2002)

Brazil's Ronaldo in the 2002 FIFA World Cup

Brazil ended their 24-year wait for a World Cup win in 1994 in the United States. The team, led by Romário and Bebeto, won their fourth World Cup. The final against Italy was a 0-0 draw, and Brazil won in a penalty shootout.

In the 1998 World Cup, Brazil reached the final again. Star player Ronaldo scored four goals on the way. But in the final, France won 3-0.

2002 World Cup winning Brazil national football team airplane in Brazilian team livery

Brazil won their fifth World Cup in 2002, held in South Korea and Japan. This team had the famous "Three R's": Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho. They won all their group games. In the final, Ronaldo scored two goals to beat Germany 2-0. Ronaldo was the top scorer with 8 goals.

Brazil also won the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

World Cup Challenges (2006–Present)

Brazil and Japan entering the field at the 2006 FIFA World Cup

In the 2006 World Cup, Brazil won all their group games. Ronaldo broke the record for most goals scored in World Cup history. But Brazil lost to France 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

Dunga became Brazil's coach in 2006. Brazil won the 2007 Copa América and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Brazil's Kaká against Chile at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

At the 2010 World Cup, Brazil reached the quarter-finals. They lost to the Netherlands 2-1.

Brazilian players celebrate winning the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The team had five wins in five matches.

In 2013, Brazil won the Confederations Cup again, beating Spain 3-0 in the final.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup at Home

Brazil line up against Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Neymar (front row, second from right) would play his last game at the tournament after being stretchered off with a fractured vertebra.

Brazil hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They started well, but in the quarter-finals, star player Neymar got injured. In the semi-final, Brazil suffered a huge 7-1 loss to Germany. This was their biggest World Cup defeat ever and a very sad moment for the country. They then lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in the third-place game.

Recent Years (2016–Present)

Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning captain, Dunga, was coach from 2006 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016.

Dunga returned as coach in 2014. In the 2016 Copa América, Brazil was eliminated in the group stage for the first time since 1987.

Brazil team prior to their group game against Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Brazil supporters at the 2018 World Cup

Tite became the new coach in 2016. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Brazil reached the quarter-finals but lost to Belgium. However, Tite led Brazil to win their ninth Copa América title in 2019.

In the 2021 Copa América, Brazil reached the final but lost to Argentina. At the 2022 World Cup, Brazil made it to the quarter-finals again but lost to Croatia in a penalty shootout.

Team Look and Feel

What Do Brazil's Uniforms Look Like?

Brazil's first team colors were white with blue collars. But after the 1950 World Cup loss, people felt these colors weren't patriotic enough. A newspaper held a contest to design a new kit using the four colors of the Brazilian flag.

The winning design was a yellow jersey with green trim and blue shorts with white trim. This design was made by Aldyr Garcia Schlee, who was only 19! These new colors were first used in 1954 and have been used ever since.

The blue and white colors for the second kit (away kit) became permanent by accident. In the 1958 World Cup Final, Brazil's opponents, Sweden, also wore yellow. Since Sweden was the home team, they got to wear yellow. Brazil didn't have a second kit, so they quickly bought blue shirts and sewed their badges onto them.

Fun Nicknames for the Team

The Brazil national team has many cool nicknames:

• Canarinho (Little Canary) – because of their bright yellow jersey.
• Amarelinha (Little Yellow One)
• Seleção (The National Squad)
• Verde-amarela (The Green and Yellow)
• Pentacampeão (Five-time Champions) – because they've won 5 World Cups!
• Esquadrão de Ouro (The Golden Squad)

Some people also call them El Scratch or Samba Boys.

Where Do They Train?

Granja Comary complex is the training camp of the national team.

Brazil's main training camp is called Granja Comary. It's located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1987 and was updated in 2013 and 2014.

Brazil's Amazing Records

Top Players and Coaches

Mário Zagallo is a legend! He is the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as both a player (in 1958 and 1962) and a manager (in 1970). He was only 38 when he won as a coach, making him one of the youngest World Cup-winning coaches. He also helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup as an assistant coach.

How Brazil Has Done in Big Tournaments

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place     Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

FIFA World Cup Success

Brazil's Ronaldo in the 2002 FIFA World Cup

Brazil has qualified for every single FIFA World Cup they have tried to enter. They have never needed a special play-off game to get in. With five titles, they have won the World Cup more times than any other country!

FIFA World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1930	Group stage	6th	2	1	0	1	5	2	Squad
1934	Round of 16	14th	1	0	0	1	1	3	Squad
1938	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	14	11	Squad
1950	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	1	1	22	6	Squad
1954	Quarter-finals	5th	3	1	1	1	8	5	Squad
1958	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	16	4	Squad
1962	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	14	5	Squad
1966	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	4	6	Squad
1970	Champions	1st	6	6	0	0	19	7	Squad
1974	Fourth place	4th	7	3	2	2	6	4	Squad
1978	Third place	3rd	7	4	3	0	10	3	Squad
1982	Second group stage	5th	5	4	0	1	15	6	Squad
1986	Quarter-finals	5th	5	4	1	0	10	1	Squad
1990	Round of 16	9th	4	3	0	1	4	2	Squad
1994	Champions	1st	7	5	2	0	11	3	Squad
1998	Runners-up	2nd	7	4	1	2	14	10	Squad
2002	Champions	1st	7	7	0	0	18	4	Squad
2006	Quarter-finals	5th	5	4	0	1	10	2	Squad
2010		6th	5	3	1	1	9	4	Squad
2014	Fourth place	4th	7	3	2	2	11	14	Squad
2018	Quarter-finals	6th	5	3	1	1	8	3	Squad
2022		7th	5	3	1	1	8	3	Squad
Total	5 Titles	22/22	114	76	19	19	237	108	—

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Copa América Achievements

Brazil has also had great success in the Copa América, the main football tournament for South American teams. They have won it 9 times!

South American Championship / Copa América record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1916	Third place	3rd	3	0	2	1	3	4	Squad
1917	Third place	3rd	3	1	0	2	7	8	Squad
1919	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	12	3	Squad
1920	Third place	3rd	3	1	0	2	1	8	Squad
1921	Runners-up	2nd	3	1	0	2	4	3	Squad
1922	Champions	1st	5	2	3	0	7	2	Squad
1923	Fourth place	4th	3	0	0	3	2	5	Squad
1925	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	11	9	Squad
1937	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	0	2	17	11	Squad
1942	Third place	3rd	6	3	1	2	15	7	Squad
1945	Runners-up	2nd	6	5	0	1	19	5	Squad
1946	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	13	7	Squad
1949	Champions	1st	8	7	0	1	46	7	Squad
1953	Runners-up	2nd	7	4	0	3	17	9	Squad
1956	Fourth place	4th	5	2	2	1	4	5	Squad
1957	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	0	2	23	9	Squad
1959	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	2	0	17	7	Squad
1959	Third place	3rd	4	2	0	2	7	10	Squad
1963	Fourth place	4th	6	2	1	3	12	13	Squad
1975	Third place	3rd	6	5	0	1	16	4	Squad
1979	Third place	3rd	6	2	2	2	10	9	Squad
1983	Runners-up	2nd	8	2	4	2	8	5	Squad
1987	Group stage	5th	2	1	0	1	5	4	Squad
1989	Champions	1st	7	5	2	0	11	1	Squad
1991	Runners-up	2nd	7	4	1	2	12	8	Squad
1993	Quarter-finals	5th	4	1	2	1	6	4	Squad
1995	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	2	0	10	3	Squad
1997	Champions	1st	6	6	0	0	22	3	Squad
1999	Champions	1st	6	6	0	0	17	2	Squad
2001	Quarter-finals	6th	4	2	0	2	5	4	Squad
2004	Champions	1st	6	3	2	1	13	6	Squad
2007	Champions	1st	6	4	1	1	15	5	Squad
2011	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	3	0	6	4	Squad
2015		5th	4	2	1	1	5	4	Squad
2016	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	7	2	Squad
2019	Champions	1st	6	4	2	0	13	1	Squad
2021	Runners-up	2nd	7	5	1	1	12	3	Squad
2024	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	3	0	5	2	Squad
Total	9 Titles	38/48	195	109	41	45	435	206	—

FIFA Confederations Cup Wins

Brazil has won the FIFA Confederations Cup four times, showing their strength in this competition.

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1997	Champions	1st	5	4	1	0	14	2	Squad
1999	Runners-up	2nd	5	4	0	1	18	6	Squad
2001	Fourth place	4th	5	1	2	2	3	3	Squad
2003	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	3	Squad
2005	Champions	1st	5	3	1	1	12	6	Squad
2009	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	14	5	Squad
2013	Champions	1st	5	5	0	0	14	3	Squad
Total	4 Titles	7/10	33	23	5	5	78	28	—

Olympic Games Medals

Brazil has also won silver medals in football at the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1952	Quarter-finals	6th	3	2	0	1	9	6	Squad
1960	Group stage	6th	3	2	0	1	10	6	Squad
1964	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	5	2	Squad
1968	Group stage	11th	3	0	2	1	4	5	Squad
1972	Group stage	12th	3	0	1	2	4	6	Squad
1976	Fourth place	4th	5	2	1	2	6	6	Squad
1984	Silver medal	2nd	6	4	1	1	9	5	Squad
1988	Silver medal	2nd	6	4	1	1	12	4	Squad
Since 1992	See Brazil national under-23 football team
Total	2 Silver medals	8/19	32	15	7	10	59	40	—

Brazil's Trophies and Awards

Major Competition Wins

Brazil has won many important football competitions around the world and in South America.

Worldwide Titles

• FIFA World Cup
  • Champions (5): 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
  • Runners-up (2): 1950, 1998
  • Third place (2): 1938, 1978
• FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Champions (4): 1997, 2005, 2009, 2013
  • Runners-up (1): 1999
• Olympic Games
  • Silver medal (2): 1984, 1988

Continental Titles

• South American Championship / Copa América
  • Champions (9): 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019
  • Runners-up (12): 1921, 1925, 1937, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1957, 1959 (Argentina), 1983, 1991, 1995, 2021
  • Third place (7): 1916, 1917, 1920, 1942, 1959 (Ecuador), 1975, 1979
• Panamerican Championship
  • Champions (2): 1952, 1956
  • Runners-up (1): 1960
• CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 1996, 2003
  • Third place (1): 1998

Awards for Fair Play and Team of the Year

Brazil has also won many special awards for being a great team and for playing fairly.

• FIFA Team of the Year(13): 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2022
• World Soccer Team of the Year (2): 1982, 2002
• Laureus World Team of the Year: 2003
• FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy (4): 1982, 1986, 1994, 2006
• FIFA Confederations Cup Fair Play Trophy (2): 1999, 2009
• Copa América Fair Play Trophy (2): 2019, 2021

Summary of Major Titles

Brazil has won a total of 20 major international football titles!

Senior Competition				Total
FIFA World Cup	5	2	2	9
FIFA Confederations Cup	4	1	0	5
Olympic Games	0	2	0	2
Copa América	9	12	7	28
Panamerican Championship	2	1	0	3
CONCACAF Gold Cup	0	2	1	3
Total	20	20	10	50

Images for kids

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  The first Brazil national team, 1914

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  Brazil's first match at home against Exeter City in 1914

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  Brazil national team at the 1950 World Cup.

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  The Brazil national team at the 1959 Copa América

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  Defending champions Brazil at the 1962 FIFA World Cup

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  Brazil's Kaká against Chile at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

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  Brazil line up against Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Neymar (front row, second from right) would play his last game at the tournament after being stretchered off with a fractured vertebra.

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  Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning captain, Dunga, was coach from 2006 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016.

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  Brazil team prior to their group game against Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

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  Brazil supporters at the 2018 World Cup

See Also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Brasil para niños

• Brazil national under-23 football team
• Brazil national under-20 football team
• Brazil national under-17 football team
• Brazil national futsal team
• Brazil national beach soccer team
• Brazilian football songs
• List of Brazil national football team managers
• Pra Frente Brasil