In its debut in the FIFA Series, an international friendly tournament that promotes a women’s edition for the first time this year, the Brazilian football team defeated South Korea 5-1.
The match was played at Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá, on Saturday night (11). Brazil hosts one of the four women’s groups in the tournament — in addition to the host team, Canada, South Korea and Zambia participate in it.
Brazil did not encounter any major difficulties in dominating the match. The team put pressure on their South Korean opponents from the start of the game and had several chances to score throughout the first half.
South Korea tried to react and balance the dispute, but the Brazilian team opened the scoring in the 41st minute of the first stage. Ary Borges received a cross from Yasmin, crossed the line with Isa Haas and finished.
Brazil maintained the offensive rhythm and scored a sequence of goals in the second half: Ludmila soon after returning to the pitch, Dudinha with half a bicycle in the 12th minute, Kerolin in the 15th and Tainá Maranhão in the 37th.
Shortly before the end of the match, in the 41st minute, Park Soo-Jeong took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Lelê and scored South Korea’s only goal in the friendly.
After a season with impressive results in 2025 — the team won the Copa América and ended the year with ten wins, two draws and three defeats, with 39 goals scored and 18 conceded —, the Brazilian team had been performing irregularly this year.
In the friendlies they played in the first months of 2026, Brazil beat Costa Rica 5-2, but suffered two consecutive defeats — to Venezuela, 2-1, and to Mexico, 1-0.
The team led by Arthur Elias returns to Arena Pantanal next Tuesday (14) at 10:30 pm Brasília time (9:30 pm in Cuiabá) to face Zambia and faces Canada at the same time next Sunday (18).
The FIFA Series aims to support men’s teams from federations with fewer resources and encourage the development of women’s football. The tournament does not offer trophies or prize money, but the federation pays for all of the teams’ travel, accommodation and game organization expenses.
In addition to Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Thailand host groups in the women’s competition. In total, 34 men’s and 16 women’s teams participate in the FIFA Series 2026.
