Brazil will begin preparations for a new international cycle when they face Australia in a friendly at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, with Carlo Ancelotti under pressure to deliver a positive response.
Neither side has played since the 2026 World Cup, where Australia enjoyed another encouraging tournament despite falling short in the knockout stages. The Socceroos reached the round of 32 after progressing from their group, but were eventually eliminated by Egypt on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Tony Popovic’s side had earlier made an impressive start to the tournament by defeating Turkey 2-0. However, their recent overall form has been inconsistent, with Australia winning just two of their last six matches while suffering three defeats.
The Socceroos have scored only four goals across those six games but have conceded just five and recorded two clean sheets. Their home record should provide further encouragement, as Australia are unbeaten in their last seven matches on home soil, winning six.
Brazil, meanwhile, will be desperate to move beyond a disappointing World Cup campaign. The Selecao were beaten 2-1 by Norway in the round of 16, ending a seven-match unbeaten run that had included six victories.
Ancelotti has already spoken publicly about some of the issues affecting Brazilian football, including concerns over young players receiving insufficient playing time after moving to European clubs at an early age.
Brazil have historically enjoyed the better record in this fixture, winning four of their five previous meetings with Australia. However, their recent away form is a concern, with the Selecao winning only two of their last eight matches on the road and losing four.
Team News
Australia are expected to adopt a cautious approach against Brazil, with Popovic likely to deploy a three-man defensive system designed to limit the visitors’ attacking threat.
Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington are the leading candidates to form the back three. Jackson Irvine and Aiden O’Neill could operate in front of the defence, providing additional protection while helping Australia transition into attack.
Nestory Irankunda is expected to lead the attacking line as Australia look to exploit their pace and directness in the final third.
For Brazil, Alisson Becker was left out of the squad for the September international window. Despite the Liverpool goalkeeper remaining Ancelotti’s first-choice option, Hugo Souza could be handed the opportunity to start between the posts.
Ancelotti may also use the friendly to give Endrick valuable playing time as he continues to develop at international level. The young forward could operate from the right side, with Raphinha and Vinicius Junior providing additional attacking quality.
Bruno Guimaraes is expected to anchor the midfield, potentially alongside Manchester United’s Andrey Santos in a double pivot.
Possible Lineups
Australia possible starting lineup:
Beach; Circati, Souttar, Herrington; Bos, Irvine, O’Neill, Behich; Toure, Metcalfe; Irankunda
Brazil possible starting lineup:
Souza; Danilo, Marquinhos, Magalhaes, D Santos; Endrick, Guimaraes, A Santos, Lino; Raphinha, Vinicius Junior
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 11:00am (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Australia 1-2 Brazil.
