Thiago Juvencio / SPP
The U.S. women’s national team has embarked on new era with a younger generation of standouts stepping into the spotlight, driven by two clear ambitions: adding a fifth World Cup title to their trophy case and redeeming a shocking Round of 16 exit in the 2023 edition.
On the other hand, the Brazilian national team — or a Seleção — one of the USWNT’s perennial rivals, will bring their trademark playing style and unique tactical system to the world stage in 2027. On home soil, they fight to bring the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup trophy to their futebol-obsessed nation, offer a story book ending for Marta — their rainha (queen) and one of the sport’s greats — and catalyze compounding, rapid growth in their domestic women’s league.
Under head coach Arthur Elias, formerly the architect of Corinthians’ hegemonic dominance in Brazilian women’s football, Brazil now employs an individual marking defensive system. The system is unprecedented in the program’s history and largely uncommon at the international level. Brazil also suffered an early exit in the ‘23 World Cup group stage, and has much to prove in front of some of the most feverish home crowds the world offers come next summer.
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