Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti finalizes a patchwork side for the international friendly brazil vs france at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on Thursday as he contends with several notable absences. Key names—including Rodrygo, Neymar, Eder Militao, Richarlison, Alisson Becker, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes—are out of the squad, some omitted and others unavailable due to injury. The changes hand Ederson the goalkeeper’s role and point to a 4-4-2 that pairs Joao Pedro with Matheus Cunha up front.
Brazil Vs France: Predicted XI
The strongest available eleven laid out by the coaching staff places Ederson in goal behind a four-man backline of Wesley, Bremer, Marquinhos and Douglas Santos. The midfield is expected to feature Raphinha and Vinicius Junior wide with Casemiro and Andrey Santos in the centre. Up front, Chelsea’s Joao Pedro is likely to start alongside Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha in a front two. The predicted line-up reads: Ederson; Wesley, Bremer, Marquinhos, Santos; Raphinha, Casemiro, Santos, Vinicius Jr; Cunha, Pedro.
Marquinhos sits on 103 appearances and needs two more to draw level with Lucio in sixth on Brazil’s all-time caps list, a milestone that could be reached with further minutes in this fixture. The setup suggests a pragmatic 4-4-2 if Ancelotti persists with that shape, relying on wide pace and a central shield in Casemiro.
Injuries, Omissions and Selection Challenges
Selection headaches shape the build-up: Rodrygo, Neymar, Eder Militao, Richarlison, Alisson Becker, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes are not available for this match, with at least one confirmed injury among that group. Alisson’s unavailability opens the door for Ederson between the posts. The defensive pairing of Marquinhos and Bremer is described as formidable, and Douglas Santos completes the back four alongside Wesley.
In midfield, Andrey Santos is preferred to partner Casemiro. Wide positions should be filled by Raphinha and Vinicius Jr if the manager maintains the 4-4-2 plan. Central attacking options beyond Cunha and Pedro include uncapped prospects Igor Thiago and Rayan, names in the mix should the staff opt to rotate.
What to Watch Next
Expect the match to be a live template for Ancelotti’s short-term options as Brazil test combinations ahead of competitive fixtures; monitoring Marquinhos’ cap run and the performance of the Cunha–Pedro partnership will be central to selection debates. Updates on squad availability and any late changes will be confirmed ahead of kickoff; the latest match build-up and the official starting list are due before kickoff, with the story updated 24 Mar 2026 10: 26 ET. The brazil vs france friendly will reveal how the temporary absences reshape Brazil’s immediate tactical choices and personnel depth.
