Seleção National Identity

Lore & Background

Although today the Brazilian Women's National Team is one of the best in the world, it was not that long ago that women were not even allowed to watch a game. The women's game filtered sporadically throughout Brazil with popular traction in the early 20th century. Magazines such as O imparcial and Jornal dos sports covered the women's game praising their achievements in local cup competitions. Yet, the traditional order of futbol as 'purely masculine' came into contention resulting in the games downfall.

Until, the mid-1940s when Brazil became a dictatorship subsequently banning the women's game. Banned by the Minister of Education and Health in 1941, eugenic ideologies from the new dictatorship called for the protection of womanly bodies, thus sports became a disqualified endeavor. The game was male dominated, and those who could not perform well were even called feminine at times. Throughout the time of the ban, women were observed playing quite frequently forcing the Conselho Nacional de Desportos (CND) to take charge and reissue bans that were not working.

In 1965, Deliberation no. 7 further forced an end to all women's sports in Brazil, not just football. This ban would not be lifted until the late 1970s, when Brazil passed Amnesty Laws allowing political exiles back into the country. A surge of Brazilian feminists returned to their country eager to change the social landscape inspired by the Western feminist movements of the 60s and 70s. In 1979, the National Sports Council of Brazil passed Deliberation no. 10 reinstating the women's game.

Early professional women's football club EC Radar, founded in 1982, dominated the first editions of the Taça Brasil de Futebol Feminino and served as Brazil's representation in the 1986 Mundialito and 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament. Its players also formed the majority of Brazil's roster at the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, in which Elane scored the nation's first Women's World Cup goal on 17 November 1991. The Brazil women's national team played their first game on 22 July 1986 against the United States, losing 2–1.

Reader's Guide

The Brazil women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the 'Seleção (The National Squad)', 'As Canarinhas (The Female Canaries)', 'Verde-Amarela (Green-and-Yellow)' or 'Mulheres deste solo' (Women of this soil). Under the CBF requirements both men's and women's national teams are supplied by the same kit manufacturer. The current sponsorship deal is signed with Nike. Although, the details of the kit differ in style. The crest of the women's national team is produced without the five star accolades from previous men's World Cup titles. In honor of the burgeoning history of the women's team they will only attach star merits based on their own performances.

Did You Know?

• Brazil was Latin America's first country to legally recognize futebol feminino.
• In 2025 Brazil defeated Colombia at the Copa America Femenina final on penalties and secured their ninth title.
• The 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil, making it the first edition of the tournament held in South America.