7M - International Friendly Preview: Brazil vs Croatia - prediction, team news, lineups

As Brazil prepares for their upcoming World Cup campaign, the Selecao travels to Orlando's Camping World Stadium on Tuesday, April 1, 2026, for an international friendly encounter against Croatia. Both nations enter this fixture with contrasting momentum, making this a compelling test ahead of the global tournament.

Brazil arrives following a narrow 2-1 defeat to France, a result that extended a challenging period for Carlo Ancelotti's side. The five-time World Cup champions have secured only two victories across their last six outings. While impressive wins over South Korea (5-0) and Senegal (2-0) showcased their attacking potential, setbacks against Bolivia (1-0 loss), Tunisia (1-1 draw), and Japan (3-2 defeat) have raised questions about consistency. The recent loss in Foxborough, where Hugo Ekitike and Kylian Mbappe found the net for France, highlighted defensive vulnerabilities that Ancelotti must address.

Croatia, under the guidance of Zlatko Dalic, presents a stark contrast in current form. The Chequered Ones enter this match riding a wave of confidence after overturning a first-minute deficit to defeat Colombia 2-1 in Orlando, with goals from Luka Vuskovic and Igor Matanovic securing the comeback. Dalic's squad concluded 2025 with seven victories and one draw across eight fixtures, demonstrating remarkable stability. Although recent opponents such as Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar offered limited resistance, Croatia has scored at least two goals in each of their last four matches, signaling offensive cohesion.

Defensively, Brazil has shown moments of solidity, particularly in clean-sheet performances against South Korea and Senegal. However, conceding multiple goals against Japan and France exposes areas for improvement in transitional phases. Croatia's defensive structure, anchored by experienced figures and emerging talents like 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic, has proven resilient during their winning sequence. The side has balanced organization with opportunistic counter-attacking, a hallmark of Dalic's tactical approach.

Fixture congestion and player availability add another layer of complexity. Brazil faces significant injury concerns: Raphinha sustained a hamstring injury against France and is expected to miss approximately five weeks, Wesley has been discharged with a thigh problem, and Vinicius Junior remains doubtful due to muscular fatigue. On a positive note, captain Marquinhos has resumed training following a hip issue and could earn his 104th appearance for the national team. Croatia, meanwhile, lost backup goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski ahead of the Colombia match but otherwise reports a fully fit squad. Luka Modric, who recently celebrated his 195th cap, is anticipated to start and wear the armband against his former manager Ancelotti, while Andrej Kramaric is likely to return to the starting eleven.

Probable starting formations:

Brazil: Ederson; Ibanez, Bremer, Marquinhos, D. Santos; Henrique, A. Santos, Casemiro, Martinelli; Cunha, Pedro

Croatia: Livakovic; Erlic, Vuskovic, Pongracic; Stanisic, Modric, P. Sucic, Perisic; Mario Pasalic, Kramaric, Baturina

Historical context favors Brazil, as Croatia has never defeated the Selecao within regular time. Their most recent meeting at the 2022 World Cup saw Croatia advance via penalty shootout after a goalless draw, a result that propelled Dalic's side to the semi-finals.

Considering Brazil's injury challenges and inconsistent recent displays alongside Croatia's strong momentum and tactical discipline, a tightly contested encounter is anticipated. Both teams possess quality in attacking areas but may prioritize defensive stability in this friendly setting.

Predicted score: Brazil 1-1 Croatia