Key Points
— Brazil faces Croatia in Orlando on Tuesday in Ancelotti’s final test before the May 18 World Cup squad announcement
— Ancelotti confirms Marquinhos and Vinícius Jr. are fit to play after injury concerns, and will make up to five changes from the France defeat
— Croatia — the team that eliminated Brazil in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals — arrives on a nine-match unbeaten run under Zlatko Dalić
The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that Brazil faces Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET in a Brazil World Cup preparation friendly that carries more weight than most exhibition matches. This is the last game before Carlo Ancelotti finalizes his squad for the 2026 tournament on May 18.
It is also the first time the two sides have met since Croatia eliminated Brazil on penalties in the 2022 quarterfinals in Qatar — a result that ended Tite’s tenure and ultimately led to Ancelotti’s appointment.
Ten Matches, Ten Different Lineups
Ancelotti will field his 10th different starting eleven in 10 matches as Brazil‘s head coach. The Italian confirmed during Monday’s press conference that he will stick with his 4-2-4 formation but will make up to five changes from the side that lost 2-1 to France last week in Foxborough.
Raphinha and Wesley have been ruled out with injuries. Luiz Henrique, who impressed off the bench against France, is expected to start. Ibañez, a center-back by trade, will be deployed at right-back — a solution born of necessity rather than design.
The key positive news: Ancelotti confirmed that both Marquinhos and Vinícius Jr. are fit after training separately over the weekend. Marquinhos missed the France match with hip pain, while Vinícius Jr. was managing a knock. Both will start on Tuesday.
The expected lineup: Ederson; Ibañez, Marquinhos, Léo Pereira, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Danilo (Botafogo); Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, João Pedro, Vinícius Jr.
Croatia Arrives in Form
Zlatko Dalić’s Croatia is on a nine-match unbeaten run and qualified for the 2026 World Cup undefeated through European qualifying — seven wins and one draw in eight matches. The 2018 finalists and 2022 third-place finishers beat Colombia 2-1 in their own friendly last week.
At 40, Luka Modrić is expected to start once again. Ancelotti, who coached Modrić at Real Madrid, called him one of the best players he has ever managed. Ivan Perišić and Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanišić are also expected in the starting eleven.
The Road to the World Cup
Ancelotti said he already has the World Cup starting eleven decided and that the final roster is largely settled. Tuesday’s match is the last opportunity for fringe players to force their way in. Young center-back Vitor Reis, a late addition to the squad, will be available off the bench.
The notable absence from the entire March window was Neymar. Despite being on the preliminary list, the 34-year-old Santos forward was not called up — a decision Ancelotti attributed to fitness concerns after watching Neymar sit out a Santos match on March 10 with muscular soreness.
After Tuesday, Brazil’s schedule before the tournament includes the final squad announcement on May 18, a friendly against Panama at the Maracanã on May 31, and a final warm-up against Egypt on June 6 in the United States.
Brazil opens its 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13, followed by group matches against Haiti (June 19) and Scotland (June 24).