Samba Football Style

Lore & Background

Brazil is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup, winning the tournament five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. It is the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence nor need for playoffs. Brazil was the most successful team in the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup, with victories in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013. Many commentators, football experts, and former players regard Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning side as the greatest football team of all time.

Reader's Guide

Brazil's first-ever game was a 1914 match between a Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo select team and the English club Exeter City. Brazil won 2–0. Brazil achieved third place at the first two editions of the South American Championship in 1916 and 1917, and were champions in the 1919 edition. They won the 1922 championship on home soil. Brazil played in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. After the Maracanazo defeat in 1950, Brazil debuted a new uniform in 1954 featuring yellow shirts with green details, blue shorts, and white socks, still used today. Brazil won its first World Cup in 1958.

Did You Know?

• Brazil holds the record for most FIFA Team of the Year first ranking wins with 13.
• Brazil has the highest average Elo football rating over time.