England National Football Team Vs Brazil National Football Team Lineups

Few fixtures carry the glamour of England against Brazil. Wembley, the Maracanã and a World Cup quarter-final in Japan have all hosted it. Fans searching for England National Football Team vs Brazil National Football Team lineups usually want one of three things: who started the last time the sides met, who is likely to start next time, and how the rivalry has played out. This article covers all three. One caveat first. As of 29 October 2026, I could not find a confirmed upcoming England v Brazil fixture. The lineups below are therefore the verified XIs from the most recent meeting, the current state of both squads, and my own projected XIs, which are clearly labelled as projections and not official team sheets.

Where the Two Teams Stand Right Now

The 2026 World Cup left both nations in very different places. Brazil’s campaign ended with a last-16 defeat to Norway, their worst World Cup performance since 1990. England, by contrast, reached the semi-finals and finished third with a 6-4 win over France.

The two managers have responded in opposite ways. Carlo Ancelotti’s first squad of the new cycle kept only about 38.5% of his World Cup players, with eight senior newcomers and an average age of 24.9. Thomas Tuchel’s original England selection kept 17 members of the World Cup group, so he is refreshing the team rather than rebuilding it.

That contrast shapes any future lineup. England’s core is settled and experienced at the top level. Brazil’s XI is much harder to predict because Ancelotti is still experimenting.

The Last Meeting: Verified Lineups from England 0-1 Brazil (23 March 2024)

The most recent England National Football Team vs Brazil National Football Team lineups on record come from the friendly at Wembley on 23 March 2024. Brazil won 1-0, and the match is a useful reference for how each side lines up against the other.

England’s XI (Gareth Southgate)

England started with Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker (captain), Ben Chilwell, Declan Rice, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Ollie Watkins, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon. Here is what each player brought to the match:

• Jordan Pickford (GK, Everton): Made a low save from Rodrygo early on and denied Vinicius Júnior’s first effort before Endrick scored the rebound.
• Kyle Walker (RB, Manchester City): Captain on the night. He recovered to clear Vinicius’s shot off the line, but picked up an injury in doing so and was replaced.
• Ben Chilwell (LB, Chelsea): Returned from injury and went close with an effort in a game of few clear chances.
• Declan Rice (CM, Arsenal): Provided the free-kick delivery that found Gordon at the back post.
• John Stones (CB, Manchester City): The defensive anchor, and one of the senior voices before the game.
• Harry Maguire (CB, Manchester United): Took over the captaincy after Walker went off, but was harried into a mistake by Raphinha in the first half.
• Phil Foden (Manchester City): Created and threatened in the final third without finding the finish.
• Conor Gallagher (CM, Chelsea): Supplied midfield energy and was substituted late on.
• Ollie Watkins (ST, Aston Villa): Missed a six-yard chance after a pass from Gordon.
• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid): Booked early, in a quiet night by his standards.
• Anthony Gordon (LW, Newcastle United): Made his debut and forced a diving save from Bento.

Substitutes used were Ezri Konsa (for Walker, on his full senior debut), Jarrod Bowen, Joe Gomez, Lewis Dunk, Kobbie Mainoo (on his England debut) and Marcus Rashford.

Brazil’s XI (Dorival Júnior)

Brazil started with Bento; Danilo (captain), Wendell, Fabrício Bruno, Beraldo, Bruno Guimarães, João Gomes, Lucas Paquetá, Raphinha, Rodrygo and Vinicius Júnior. Their roles:

• Bento (GK): Made a good diving save to keep out Gordon’s effort.
• Danilo (RB, captain): Led the side and kept the back line organised.
• Fabrício Bruno and Beraldo (CBs): A makeshift pairing that held England’s attack well.
• Wendell (LB): Provided width on the left in a mostly defensive display.
• Bruno Guimarães and João Gomes (midfield): Gave Brazil a combative base, with Paquetá ahead of them.
• Lucas Paquetá (AM): Booked, and twice close to scoring, including a bending first-time shot that went inches wide.
• Raphinha (RW): Pressed Maguire into an error and shot narrowly wide.
• Rodrygo (F): Fired the first warning shot of the match.
• Vinicius Júnior (LW): Went round Pickford but saw his shot cleared off the line, then forced the save that led to the goal.

Endrick, 17, came on for Rodrygo and scored in the 80th minute, becoming the youngest goalscorer in a men’s senior match at Wembley. The other substitutes were Andreas Pereira, Savio, Douglas Luiz and Pablo Maia.

Tactical Takeaways

England controlled long stretches and created decent chances, but lacked a clinical finish. Brazil defended compactly, relied on Vinicius and Raphinha in transition, and took their one clear moment. That pattern, with Brazil sitting deep and England dominating possession, has recurred in several of their meetings.

Current England Squad: Who Would Feature Under Tuchel

Any new fixture would feature a very different England. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marc Guéhi and Jordan Pickford remain part of Tuchel’s core. Here is where the main players stand:

• Harry Kane (ST): England’s captain and record scorer, and the focal point of the attack.
• Jude Bellingham (AM/CM): The creative heartbeat of the team and its biggest big-game presence.
• Bukayo Saka (RW): A consistent right-sided threat who gives England width and a high work rate.
• Marc Guéhi (CB): The cornerstone of Tuchel’s back line.
• Jordan Pickford (GK): Still England’s first-choice goalkeeper.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB): He returned after more than a year away from the national team.
• Cole Palmer (AM): Initially recalled after missing the World Cup, though he later withdrew through injury.
• Rice, Rashford, Mainoo and Livramento: All among those forced out of the squad through injury. They remain central to England’s plans when fit.
• Calvert-Lewin, Hall, Lewis-Skelly and Branthwaite: Brought back or given renewed opportunities.

Projected England XI (4-2-3-1), My Own Prediction

Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Guéhi, Branthwaite, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Palmer; Kane. This assumes everyone is fit and that Tuchel stays with a back four. He has been described as hard to categorise tactically, so treat it as a best guess.

Current Brazil Squad: Ancelotti’s Rebuild

Brazil are harder to read. Ancelotti heavily rotated across three friendlies on his tour, every player in his 26-man roster got game time, and eight made international debuts. Only Vinicius Júnior and Danilo started all three matches.

• Vinicius Júnior (LW): Still the team’s main attacking threat and its most dangerous player in transition.
• Raphinha (RW): Retained from the World Cup group, though Barcelona were reported to be monitoring a thigh injury after an injury scare on Brazil duty, so his availability is worth checking.
• Endrick (ST): The player who scored at Wembley in 2024, and now an established part of the attack.
• Estêvão (Chelsea): A young attacker who started alongside Vinicius, Raphinha and Endrick in Brazil’s draw with Australia.
• Gabriel Magalhães (CB, Arsenal): One of the senior defensive options.
• Bruno Guimarães (CM): Another carry-over from the 2024 lineup and still a midfield engine.
• Rayan (Bournemouth): Scored a 90th-minute-plus equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw with Australia. Yahoo Sports
• Vanderson and Samuel Lino: Both scored their first international goals on the tour, with Lino netting twice against India.
• Jair, Vitor Reis and Andrey Santos: Young, Premier League-based options who have been included in Ancelotti’s plans.
• João Pedro (Chelsea): Called up originally but withdrew through injury.

Projected Brazil XI (4-2-4 / 4-3-3), My Own Prediction

Goalkeeper and left-back are genuinely open. A likely shape is: [goalkeeper]; Vanderson, Gabriel Magalhães, Vitor Reis, [left-back]; Bruno Guimarães, Andrey Santos; Raphinha, Estêvão, Vinicius Júnior, Endrick. This is deliberately cautious. Ancelotti has been rotating heavily and may well change shape.

England vs Brazil: Last 10 Matches

Here are the ten most recent meetings, most recent first. Results come from the 11v11 head-to-head record, with match details from The FA’s match centre where available.

#	Date	Competition	Fixture (home v away)	Score	Venue	Notes
1	23 Mar 2024	Friendly	England v Brazil	0-1	Wembley	Endrick 80′
2	14 Nov 2017	Friendly	England v Brazil	0-0	Wembley	Goalless draw before the 2018 World Cup
3	2 Jun 2013	Friendly	Brazil v England	2-2	Maracanã, Rio	Fred (pen), Paulinho; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rooney
4	6 Feb 2013	Friendly	England v Brazil	2-1	Wembley	Rooney, Lampard; Fred. Joe Hart saved a Ronaldinho penalty
5	14 Nov 2009	Friendly	Brazil v England	1-0	Doha	Brazil win
6	1 Jun 2007	Friendly	England v Brazil	1-1	Wembley	Terry 68′; Diego equalised late. Opening senior game at the new Wembley
7	21 Jun 2002	World Cup (QF)	England v Brazil	1-2	Shizuoka, Japan	Ronaldinho’s free-kick lobbed Seaman
8	27 May 2000	Friendly	England v Brazil	1-1	Wembley	França scored for Brazil before half-time
9	10 Jun 1997	Tournoi de France	Brazil v England	1-0	France	Brazil win
10	11 Jun 1995	Umbro Cup	England v Brazil	1-3	Wembley	Brazil win

Across these ten meetings England won once, drew four and lost five, scoring 8 goals and conceding 13. The wider picture is similar. Across 27 meetings, England have 4 wins, 11 draws and 12 defeats. The England win in the table, in February 2013, is also England’s only victory over Brazil in about 34 years, which gives a sense of how rare success has been.

Why England Have Struggled Against Brazil

Several recurring themes emerge from the history:

1. Tournament knockout pain. England have never beaten Brazil at a World Cup. The 2002 quarter-final, decided by Ronaldinho’s free-kick, is the most famous example.
2. Late goals. Diego’s stoppage-time equaliser in 2007, Paulinho’s late leveller in 2013 and Endrick’s 80th-minute winner in 2024 all show Brazil’s ability to punish England late.
3. Wembley is not a fortress against them. England’s record at home against Brazil is better than it is away, but they still have only a single win there in the modern era.
4. Finishing. In 2024, England created chances through Foden, Watkins and Chilwell, yet failed to score. Clinical finishing is what separates the sides.

What to Watch for in a Future Meeting

Kane against Brazil’s centre-backs. Brazil are rebuilding their defence, so Kane and Bellingham arriving late in the box could exploit an unsettled back line.

Vinicius and Raphinha against England’s full-backs. The Brazilian wingers are the most obvious threat to any England defence, particularly in transition.

Midfield balance. England’s Rice-led midfield is more settled than Brazil’s, who may start Bruno Guimarães alongside a young partner still adapting to international football.

Goalkeeping. Pickford’s experience against Brazil’s uncertainty in goal could be a quiet advantage for England.

Managerial chess. Tuchel and Ancelotti are both elite tacticians. Tuchel will want to become the first England manager to win against Brazil in a competitive setting, while Ancelotti is still shaping a young side.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When did England and Brazil last play each other?
They last met on 23 March 2024 in a friendly at Wembley. Brazil won 1-0, with 17-year-old Endrick scoring in the 80th minute. I couldn’t find any scheduled meeting since then, including at the 2026 World Cup, where Brazil went out to Norway in the last 16.

2. Who has the better head-to-head record, England or Brazil?
Brazil. In 27 meetings, England have won 4, drawn 11 and lost 12. England’s most recent win came in February 2013, a 2-1 friendly victory at Wembley.

3. Who scored for Brazil in the 2024 match at Wembley?
Endrick scored the only goal in the 80th minute. He had come on as a substitute for Rodrygo, and he converted the rebound after Jordan Pickford saved Vinicius Júnior’s initial effort.

4. Has England ever beaten Brazil at a World Cup?
No. The sides have met at World Cups in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 2002. Brazil won the 1962 meeting 3-1, the 1970 group game 1-0 and the 2002 quarter-final 2-1, while the 1958 game was goalless.

5. Which players are likely to lead each team in a future match?
For England, expect Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marc Guéhi and Jordan Pickford, subject to fitness. For Brazil, Vinicius Júnior, Raphinha, Endrick, Gabriel Magalhães and Bruno Guimarães are the key names, with Estêvão and Rayan emerging. Always check the official team sheets about an hour before kick-off, because injuries and rotation can change the picture.

Final Thoughts

Whenever England and Brazil meet again, the England National Football Team vs Brazil National Football Team lineups will make for compelling reading. England will bring a settled, experienced core under Tuchel. Brazil will bring a younger, rebuilt group under Ancelotti, anchored by Vinicius Júnior and a fresh generation of attackers. History favours the five-time world champions, but England’s third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup suggests the gap is narrower than the head-to-head record implies.