What observers say
“Brazil is hoping to end the international break with a victory,” a source close to the team stated, reflecting the urgency surrounding the upcoming friendly match against Croatia on March 31, 2026, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Brazil enters this match on the heels of a disappointing 2-1 loss to France, a result that has left the team reeling. With Raphinha sidelined for five weeks due to a hamstring injury, Brazil’s lineup will be tested against a formidable Croatian side that has not tasted defeat in over a year.
In contrast, Croatia comes off a strong performance, having won 2-1 against Colombia. The Croatian team, led by coach Zlatko Dalić, is known for its resilience, and as one observer noted, “Croatia is no stranger to pulling off something incredible against all odds.” This sentiment underscores the confidence Croatia brings into the match.
The last encounter between these two nations was a memorable one, as Croatia triumphed over Brazil in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals, winning on penalties. This historical context adds an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming friendly, as both teams look to assert their dominance.
Brazil’s predicted lineup features Bento; Ibañez, Bremer, Pereira, Kaiki; Casemiro, Santos; Rayan, João Pedro, Cunha; Endrick. Meanwhile, Croatia is expected to field Livaković; Stanišić, Pongračić, Vušković; Pašalić, Baturina, Sučić, Modrić, Perišić; Kramarić, Budimir. The absence of key players for Brazil, particularly Raphinha, could be a significant blow as they aim to avoid back-to-back defeats.
As the match approaches, the stakes are high for Brazil, which has struggled in recent away qualifiers, winning only two of their last ten outings. The Brazilian squad is ranked four places higher than Croatia in FIFA’s world rankings, but rankings mean little when the whistle blows.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying encounter. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to the lineups, but both teams are poised to deliver a thrilling match as they prepare for the World Cup starting on June 11.