Brazil in the World Cup: the story of the Seleção on football’s greatest stage

For decades, Brazil have kept us spellbound with their brand of intoxicating football. The skills have been breath-taking, the moves and tricks audacious, and millions have been enchanted by Pelé, Rivellino, Gérson, Jairzinho, Sócrates, Zico, Ronaldinho and countless other fantastic players.
The South Americans have lifted the World Cup a record five times. But with no wins since 2002, their position as the globe’s most successful soccer nation is under threat, and only victory in the USA, Canada and Mexico will silence their critics.
The triumphs in 1958 and 1962, the genius of Romário in 1994 and Ronaldo in 2002 all added to the allure. But it is the mesmerising football played in 1970 and 1982 that continues to capture the imagination of Brazil’s followers worldwide and sets the awe-inspiring yellow shirts apart.
Many of the coaches have been just as colourful as the players, and the groundbreakers, tacticians, gun-toters, motivators, mavericks, and press-haters have all left their mark on the Seleção. Among them was the disciplinarian Flávio Costa, who dropped a star player for using the ’wrong boots’, the superstitious Mário Zagallo, who became the first to win the World Cup as player and coach, the cerebral Cláudio Coutinho, who died in a tragic accident and the irascible Dunga who was thrown under the bus by the Brazilian press in 1990 but led his country to glory four years later.
The Brazilian team remain immensely popular abroad. Back home, though, the relationship with the national squad is complex and frequently entangled in political and cultural battles. In the 1930s and 40s, the Seleção were caught up in the drive to forge a nation’s identity but suffered a crushing blow, losing to Uruguay in the 1950 final. Yet just eight years later, Brazil landed their first World Cup, and by 1970, they had become a powerhouse, winning the competition for a third time.
This book navigates the intricacies of the sport in South America’s biggest country. It charts the Seleção’s campaigns from the first World Cup to the build-up to the 23rd tournament in 2026 and uncovers what led to triumph or turmoil.
The Canarinho have conjured up some of the most exhilarating moves ever seen and are loved by all but their fiercest rivals.
Brazil in the World Cup is the story of how the Seleção came to dominate football’s greatest stage and why they embody everything joyous about the planet’s favourite game.