Brazil will play South Korea and Japan in October as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Tuesday.
The five-time world champions will face South Korea in Seoul on 10 October, followed by a clash with Japan in Tokyo on 14 October.
Brazil have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup and are scheduled to play Chile and Bolivia next month in their final two qualifiers.
CBF general coordinator Rodrigo Caetano said the Asian tour is designed to expose Carlo Ancelotti’s side to a variety of opponents ahead of the expanded tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“After the friendlies against South Korea and Japan, our plan is to play against African national teams in November and then top European sides in March and June of 2026,” Caetano said.
“We believe facing different footballing styles from around the world will give us valuable experience and prepare us for the challenges of the World Cup,” he added.
Ancelotti, who took charge of Brazil in May after a successful spell at Real Madrid, said he hopes the matches will help him better understand his players’ characteristics and personalities ahead of next year’s 48-team tournament.