Rio de Janeiro, Aug 27 (HS): Five-time world champions Brazil will play international friendlies against South Korea and Japan in October as part of their build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Tuesday.

According to the fixture schedule, Brazil will take on South Korea in Seoul on October 10, followed by a clash against Japan in Tokyo on October 14. Having already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Seleção will also wrap up their final two qualifiers next month against Chile and Bolivia.

Rodrigo Caetano, CBF’s General Coordinator, said the friendlies are designed to give the squad varied exposure to different styles of football. “After facing South Korea and Japan, we plan to take on African opponents in November and top European teams in March and June 2026. Experiencing diverse football cultures will be vital preparation before the World Cup,” Caetano noted.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge of Brazil in May following a highly successful stint with Real Madrid, echoed the sentiment. The 66-year-old Italian stressed that the upcoming matches would also help him evaluate the players’ strengths and mental attributes more effectively.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar