Brazil’s Ministry of Sports has published a list with 10,885 beneficiaries of its Bolsa Atleta initiative for 2026.

The government’s individual sponsorship program benefits athletes who achieve strong results in recognized national and international competitions.

Priority is given to athletes in sports featured in the Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic Games. Next, the grant is intended for athletes in non-Olympic sports – those featured in the Pan American Games and others.

Below are the six categories defined by the program and the monthly grants:

Grassroots – 518 recipients (BRL 410);
Students – 678 recipients (BRL 410);
National – 7,058 recipients (BRL 1,025);
International – 1,668 recipients (BRL 2,051);
Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic – 463 recipients (BRL 3,437);
Podium – 500 recipients (BRL 5,000 to BRL 16,629).

Podium includes high-performance athletes with medal potential in major international competitions.

Italian soccer coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday (Mar. 26), after the 2–1 loss to France in a World Cup warm-up friendly, that the Brazilian national team showed it can compete with the world’s best teams.

“Today’s game made it very clear to me: we can compete with the best teams in the world. I have no doubt. We played against a very strong, high-quality team and competed until the last minute to try to win. I am convinced that we will fight for the World Cup with all our energy,” said the Brazilian team’s coach after the match at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil coach calls up new players for World Cup friendlies.
• Coach Ancelotti: Brazil set for top-level FIFA World Cup campaign.

At the post-game press conference, the coach made it clear he was not satisfied with the result but highlighted the team’s fighting spirit: “When you lose a game, you should never be happy; we are not. The result isn’t the most important thing, but it shows what we did well and what we didn’t […]. In the overall context of the game, I’m satisfied because the team competed, fought hard, and scored from a set piece, which is important.”

When asked about the possibility of Neymar (who was not called up for the friendlies against France and Croatia) playing for the national team at the World Cup, the Italian stated it is the time to focus on the players currently with the squad: “Now we have to talk about those who are here, who played, who gave their all, who worked hard. I’m satisfied.”

The Brazilian national team will return to action next Tuesday (May 31), when it faces Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

After that, Brazil will face Panama on May 31 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Finally, on June 6, one week before its World Cup opener, the team will face Egypt in its final friendly before the tournament. The match will be played at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.

The Brazilian national team is set to face France this Thursday (Mar. 26) in a friendly match that marks the start of the final phase of preparation for the upcoming World Cup, to be held in Mexico, Canada, and the US. The clash will take place at Boston’s Gillette Stadium.

The team’s coach, Italian Carlo Ancelotti, stated in a press conference that he views the match as a key challenge. “For us, it’s an important test against a team that could be a favorite in the World Cup. We want to demonstrate a positive attitude and quality,” he stated.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil coach calls up new players for World Cup friendlies.
• Coach Ancelotti: Brazil set for top-level FIFA World Cup campaign.

The coach also said that one of the French team’s stars, forward Mbappé, will be given special attention. “These are players everyone knows – strong players with a lot of talent. Mbappé scored a lot of goals last year. Now he’s an opponent. We have to put on a good defense against him. He’s a fast player, talented, and really effective on the finish.

“Even against such a challenging opponent, Ancelotti made it clear that he will field an offensive lineup, with four attacking players. “We believe the game plan we want to implement involves four up front. Against France, an important test, we want to play a good match, controlling the game, trying to defend well – which is vital – maintaining balance, and playing well with the ball, showcasing the quality that our four forwards possess.”

A possible lineup to face France is Ederson; Wesley, Ibañez, Léo Pereira, and Douglas Santos; Casemiro and Andrey Santos; and Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Júnior, and Martinelli.

Pre-World Cup friendlies

Before the World Cup kicks off, Brazil’s seleção will play three more pre-tournament friendlies. The first will be on March 31 against Croatia at Camping World Stadium, Orlando.

After that, Brazil are scheduled to play a farewell match for Brazilian fans. The national team will face Panama on May 31 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Finally, on June 6, one week before Brazil’s World Cup debut, the team should face Egypt in its final friendly before the tournament. The match will be played at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Brazil at the World Cup

Brazil is in Group C of the 2026 World Cup. Their opening match will be against Morocco on June 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In their second match, Brazil will face Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Their final group stage match is slated for June 24 against Scotland at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.