Italian-Bet

Brasil vs Panama

As a result, hype around the Selecao is potentially at all-time low ahead of football's greatest show in the United States, Canada and Mexico, especially when considering the team's recent struggles in South America.

Brazil concluded their World Cup qualification campaign with a 1-0 loss at minnows Bolivia, with the South American giants placing an unthinkable fifth spot in the CONMEBOL standings, a mammoth 10 points behind first-placed Argentina.

The Selecao would have been forced to fight in an intercontinental playoff if the World Cup was still at 32 teams, however, a top-six finish in South America was enough for automatic qualification for the 2026 edition.

Ancelotti's side have failed to flatter themselves during six straight friendly fixtures between October and the end of the March international window, with a recent 2-1 loss to France unearthing plenty of difficult truths for the five-time World Cup winners. Panama will arrive at the iconic Maracana on Sunday in much greater spirits, with the CONCACAF nation preparing for only their second-ever World Cup finals appearance following a fruitless trip to Russia in 2018.