Brazil was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after suffering a shock 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16. The Seleção won a penalty in the first half, but midfielder Bruno Guimarães missed it. Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland then made a superb save to deny Guimarães from close range. Erling Haaland then took control of the match, scoring twice for Norway. Neymar made it 2-1 from the penalty spot deep into injury-time, but it proved to be a mere consolation for the Brazilians.
Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign
The team began its 2026 World Cup campaign with a tense 1-1 draw against Morocco. The Moroccans dominated the early stages of the game, and Ismail Saibari put them 1-0 up after latching onto Brahim Díaz’s superb through-ball. Vinícius Júnior then conjured up a moment of magic to equalize in the 33rd minute. Brazil grew into the game, but the Seleçao couldn’t find a winner.
The Brazilians then clinched a comfortable 3-0 win against Haiti on Matchday 2. Matheus Cunha scored twice, and Vinícius put Brazil 3-0 up on the stroke of half-time. Brazil couldn’t add to its tally in the second half, but it was nevertheless a comfortable win for the Seleçao. They then beat Scotland 3-0, courtesy of two goals from Vinícius and another powerful strike from Cunha. That left them level with Morocco on four points apiece at the top of Group C, but Brazil had a better goal difference, so it finished first. The Samba Boys then beat Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32, courtesy of goals from Casemiro and substitute Gabriel Martinelli, but it crashed out in the Round of 16.
Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history. The Seleção has lifted the trophy five times, but its last triumph came in 2002. It was eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2006, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Brazil reached the semifinals on home soil in 2014, but it suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany that year.
The squad has never lacked quality, but successive Brazilian coaches have repeatedly failed to unlock its potential. Brazil has now turned to its first foreign coach in a bid to end the trophy drought. Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most successful managers of all time. He has won the Champions League five times, which is a record for a manager, along with domestic titles in Spain, Italy, England, France, and Germany.
There was a renewed sense of optimism among Brazil fans, but that was extinguished by Haaland’s masterclass in the Round of 16. Ancelotti vowed to start a new cycle after Brazil’s World Cup exit, but it remains to be seen if he’ll keep his job.
For live pricing on all World Cup contenders, see our 2026 World Cup odds tracker.
Key players for Brazil
Brazil’s starting XI features an impressive blend of experience and attacking quality. These are the key Brazil players that impressed at the World Cup:
- Vinícius Júnior: He’s arguably the best left winger in the world, with the pace, flair, and dynamism to overwhelm any opponent. Vinícius will need to be at his brilliant best if Brazil is to win its first World Cup since 2002, and recent performances for Real Madrid suggest he is hitting form at the right time. He ended the 2025/26 season by scoring six goals his last seven games, and he looks very sharp right now. Vinícius reminded everyone of his quality by firing in an unstoppable strike against Morocco in Brazil’s World Cup opener. He was on target again in the game against Haiti on Matchday 2, before scoring twice in Brazil’s final group stage game against Scotland.
- Alisson: The Liverpool goalkeeper is a world-class shot stopper, and he dominates his penalty area. His distribution is also impressive, so he has helped Brazil spring quick counterattacks.
- Gabriel Magalhães: Gabriel has matured into the most dominant center-back in the Premier League this season. He is exceptional in duels, with phenomenal aerial ability, positional awareness, and aggressive tackling. Arsenal’s defensive lynchpin is also extremely dangerous from attacking set-pieces, but he couldn’t score for Brazil at the World Cup.
- Raphinha: Another elite winger, who normally plays on the right of Brazil’s attacking triumvirate. Raphinha has been in sensational form for Barcelona over the past two seasons, and he now needs to replicate that form for his country. He was injured in the group stage, and he was badly missed for the rest of the tournament.
- Bruno Guimarães: The Newcastle captain was a key cog in Brazil’s midfield at this tournament, but his missed penalty kick proved costly in the Round of 16.
Related markets
Brazil’s World Cup winner contracts resolved to “no” after it was eliminated on July 5. You can still bet on the remaining World Cup contenders this summer. Here are the best markets to consider:
- Reach a specific round: Kalshi has contracts on teams reaching semifinals or the final.
- Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane are the leading contenders.
More World Cup markets
| Qualifying Countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. Algeria | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🏴 England |
| 🇫🇷 France | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇪🇸 Spain vs. Cape Verde | 🇺🇸 USA vs. Paraguay |
Where to bet on the World Cup
Kalshi had the widest selection of markets on Brazil’s World Cup campaign. You could back the Seleçao reach a specific round, and there were lots more options, including Golden Boot contracts on players like Vinícius Júnior. Polymarket was offering a strong range of markets on Brazil too, including lots of options on each game.
Not sure which platform to use? See our Kalshi vs. Polymarket breakdown for a full comparison of fees, markets, and liquidity. Prediction markets are accessible in all 50 states. They should be especially popular in states that haven’t legalized online sports betting, like Texas and California. Prediction markets also tend to offer much sharper prices than sportsbooks, so they’ll be just as popular in states with legal sports betting apps. Before placing your first trade, it’s worth reviewing prediction market fees across platforms, as trading costs vary significantly. See the latest sign-up offers for new accounts.