Brazil and France, two of the top contenders for this year’s World Cup, are continuing their preparations with a high-profile friendly match in the United States. With less than three months remaining before the tournament kicks off, the teams—ranked fifth and third in the world—are using this opportunity to acclimate and assess their readiness.
The clash takes place Thursday at Gillette Stadium near Boston, home to the NFL’s New England Patriots. This marks the first meeting between these football giants in 11 years, since Brazil’s 3-1 comeback victory in a 2015 friendly at the Stade de France, where goals from Oscar, Neymar, and Luiz Gustavo sealed the win.
Brazil’s road to the World Cup was far from smooth, finishing fifth in South American qualifying with six losses in 18 matches. Now, under the guidance of new coach Carlo Ancelotti, they aim to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup title—their first since 2002. After facing France, Brazil will travel to Orlando for a friendly against Croatia on March 31, the team that eliminated them in the 2022 quarter-finals.
One major talking point is Neymar’s absence. The 34-year-old has not played for Brazil since October 2023. Ancelotti explained, “It is a physical issue, not technical. With the ball, he is great, but he needs to improve physically.” The coach emphasized Neymar is not yet at full fitness and must continue working to reach 100 percent. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has stepped up as Brazil’s key player. Notably, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Gabriel Magalhaes, and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are missing from the squad. However, 19-year-old Rayan, who impressed at Bournemouth after joining from Vasco da Gama, earned his first call-up.
For France, the spotlight remains firmly on captain Kylian Mbappe. The 27-year-old returned from a knee injury just last week with Real Madrid and was eager to join the squad in the US. Concerns about his fitness have eased, with Mbappe stating, “It is behind me. I was following a protocol and wanted to start playing gradually. I hope to play during this international break and be decisive again.”
France’s squad saw Arsenal defender William Saliba withdraw due to injury, with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix called up as a replacement. The team is staying in the same Boston hotel planned for their World Cup base. This tournament will be coach Didier Deschamps’ final campaign after 14 years in charge, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to succeed him. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo hinted at Zidane’s appointment without confirming it outright.
The last competitive encounter between these sides was at the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals, where France triumphed 1-0 thanks to Thierry Henry’s goal and a standout performance by Zidane. If both teams top their groups as anticipated this year, a final showdown could be on the cards. Thursday’s friendly will offer a valuable glimpse into their form and ambitions as the World Cup approaches.
