The Brazil national football team vs France national football team lineups for their March 26, 2026, international friendly featured stars such as Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Casemiro, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.
Brazil started with Ederson in goal, while France selected Mike Maignan. France won the match 2–1.
Key Takeaways
- Brazil started with Ederson, Bremer, Léo Pereira, Casemiro, Raphinha, Vinícius Júnior, and Matheus Cunha.
- France’s XI included Mike Maignan, Ibrahima Konaté, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Hugo Ekitiké, and Kylian Mbappé.
- Brazil was coached by Carlo Ancelotti, while France was managed by Didier Deschamps.
- France won the friendly 2–1, with goals from Mbappé and Ekitiké. Bremer scored Brazil’s goal.
- The match took place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in front of 66,215 spectators.
Brazil National Football Team Starting Lineup
Brazil entered the March 26 friendly with a strong attacking group led by Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha, while Casemiro provided experience in midfield.
The confirmed Brazil starting lineup was:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ederson |
| Right Back | Wesley |
| Center Back | Bremer |
| Center Back | Léo Pereira |
| Left Back | Douglas Santos |
| Midfielder | Casemiro |
| Midfielder | Andrey Santos |
| Attacker | Raphinha |
| Attacker | Gabriel Martinelli |
| Forward | Matheus Cunha |
| Forward | Vinícius Júnior |
Brazil Formation and Setup
Brazil’s lineup was commonly recorded as a 4-4-2, although different match-data providers described the attacking shape slightly differently. The back four consisted of Wesley, Bremer, Léo Pereira, and Douglas Santos, with Casemiro and Andrey Santos providing the central midfield base.
The attacking group gave Brazil several ways to progress the ball. Raphinha offered width, Martinelli provided another attacking option, and Vinícius Júnior remained the major threat on the left side.
Carlo Ancelotti was Brazil’s head coach for the match. FIFA’s March results also lists Ancelotti as Brazil’s coach.
France National Football Team Starting Lineup
France also selected a high-profile starting XI, with Kylian Mbappé leading the attack and Mike Maignan starting in goal.
The confirmed France lineup was:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Mike Maignan |
| Right Back | Malo Gusto |
| Center Back | Ibrahima Konaté |
| Center Back | Dayot Upamecano |
| Left Back | Theo Hernández |
| Midfielder | Aurélien Tchouaméni |
| Midfielder | Adrien Rabiot |
| Attacker | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Attacker | Michael Olise |
| Attacker | Hugo Ekitiké |
| Forward | Kylian Mbappé |
France Formation and Setup
France’s starting structure was listed as a 4-5-1 by some match-data providers, while other sources described the attacking arrangement differently. The important point is that France had a back four of Gusto, Konaté, Upamecano, and Theo Hernández, with Tchouaméni and Rabiot supporting the midfield.
The attacking options were particularly notable. Dembélé, Olise, Ekitiké, and Mbappé gave France several different ways to attack Brazil’s defense.
Didier Deschamps was France’s head coach for the friendly.
Brazil vs France Substitutes
Both managers had experienced options available from the bench.
Brazil Substitutes
Brazil’s substitutes included:
- Hugo Souza
- Bento
- Danilo
- Kaiki
- Roger Ibañez
- Fabinho
- Gabriel Sara
- João Pedro
- Endrick
- Luiz Henrique
- Igor Thiago
- Rayan
Several of these players entered during the match. Luiz Henrique replaced Raphinha, João Pedro replaced Martinelli, and Ibañez, Danilo, Igor Thiago, and Gabriel Sara were also introduced.
France Substitutes
France had a deep bench featuring:
- Brice Samba
- Lucas Chevalier
- Lucas Digne
- Lucas Hernández
- Pierre Kalulu
- Maxence Lacroix
- Eduardo Camavinga
- N’Golo Kanté
- Warren Zaïre-Emery
- Rayan Cherki
- Désiré Doué
- Randal Kolo Muani
- Marcus Thuram
- Maghnes Akliouche
France used several of these players during the second half, including N’Golo Kanté, Maxence Lacroix, Désiré Doué, Marcus Thuram, Pierre Kalulu, and Maghnes Akliouche.
Brazil vs France Lineup Changes
The match saw multiple changes after halftime.
For Brazil, Luiz Henrique came on for Raphinha, while João Pedro replaced Gabriel Martinelli. Wesley was later replaced by Roger Ibañez, Andrey Santos made way for Danilo, and Matheus Cunha was replaced by Igor Thiago. Gabriel Sara also entered for Casemiro late in the game.
France also rotated its attacking and midfield options. N’Golo Kanté replaced Tchouaméni, Maxence Lacroix replaced Dembélé, and Désiré Doué came on for Ekitiké. Marcus Thuram replaced Mbappé before late changes involving Kalulu and Akliouche.
One important lineup event was Dayot Upamecano’s dismissal. BBC reported that France played with 10 men after Upamecano was sent off, adding another layer to the second half.
Brazil vs France Match Result and Goal Scorers
The match finished:
Brazil 1–2 France
France scored first through Kylian Mbappé in the 32nd minute. Hugo Ekitiké then doubled France’s advantage in the 65th minute.
Brazil responded through Bremer in the 78th minute, but France held on for the victory. FIFA confirms the same 2–1 result and goal sequence.
The match statistics also show a competitive contest. The Guardian recorded possession at 47% for Brazil and 53% for France, while Brazil registered 12 shots on target/off-target combined compared with seven for France.
Key Players in the Starting Lineups
Vinícius Júnior and Brazil’s Attack
Vinícius Júnior was one of the most recognizable names in Brazil’s starting XI. With Raphinha and Martinelli also involved in the attacking setup, Brazil had several players capable of creating chances from wide areas.
Matheus Cunha started alongside Vinícius and was another important part of Brazil’s attacking structure.
Kylian Mbappé and France’s Attack
Mbappé captained France and opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. BBC reported that the goal moved him to 56 international goals in 95 appearances at the time, leaving him one goal behind Olivier Giroud’s France record.
Behind and around him, France had Dembélé, Olise, and Ekitiké. That combination gave Deschamps different attacking profiles rather than relying on one player.
Hugo Ekitiké and Michael Olise
Ekitiké also made a direct impact by scoring France’s second goal. Match data from Data F.C. listed Ekitiké as its highest-rated player, while Olise was also heavily involved in France’s attacking group.
Brazil vs France Lineups: Quick Comparison
| Brazil | France |
|---|---|
| Ederson | Mike Maignan |
| Wesley | Malo Gusto |
| Bremer | Ibrahima Konaté |
| Léo Pereira | Dayot Upamecano |
| Douglas Santos | Theo Hernández |
| Casemiro | Aurélien Tchouaméni |
| Andrey Santos | Adrien Rabiot |
| Raphinha | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Michael Olise |
| Matheus Cunha | Hugo Ekitiké |
| Vinícius Júnior | Kylian Mbappé |
The two lineups contained a mix of experienced international players and younger talent. Brazil relied on a blend of attacking pace and midfield experience, while France paired its established stars with players such as Ekitiké and Olise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who started for Brazil against France?
Brazil’s starting XI included Ederson, Wesley, Bremer, Léo Pereira, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Andrey Santos, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, and Vinícius Júnior.
Who started for France against Brazil?
France started Mike Maignan, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernández, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Hugo Ekitiké, and Kylian Mbappé.
What formation did Brazil use?
Brazil was recorded in a 4-4-2 by TNT Sports and other match-data sources. Different providers can label fluid international formations differently because players frequently change positions during possession.
What formation did France use?
France was recorded in a 4-5-1 by Data F.C., while other providers used variations such as 4-2-3-1. The basic defensive structure featured four defenders with a midfield group supporting the attacking players.
What was the final score between Brazil and France?
France defeated Brazil 2–1 in the March 26, 2026, international friendly. Mbappé and Ekitiké scored for France, while Bremer scored for Brazil.
Where was Brazil vs France played?
The match was played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. BBC reported an attendance of 66,215.
Conclusion
The Brazil national football team vs France national football team lineups featured some of the biggest names in international soccer. Brazil’s XI included Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Casemiro, and Ederson, while France started Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Ekitiké, and Maignan.
The March 26, 2026, friendly ended Brazil 1–2 France, with Mbappé and Ekitiké scoring for France and Bremer responding for Brazil.
The confirmed team sheets, substitutions, and match events make this lineup useful for fans looking for the exact starting XIs rather than predicted teams.
