Brazil and Mexico test squads in friendly matches before 2026 World Cup

Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are entering their decisive phase. Following the friendly matches between Ecuador and Saudi Arabia and Mexico and Australia on Saturday, further nations are now holding their test matches. Brazil plays a friendly match against Panama today to gather final insights before the tournament.

The matches serve coaching staffs as a final opportunity to test their squads and try out tactical variations. With less than two weeks until the tournament starts in the USA, Mexico and Canada, every friendly match becomes a valuable training session. Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre used the match against Australia to observe players like Fidalgo before the final squads are announced.

Final chances before tournament start

The national teams must submit their final lineups by the official deadline. Such test matches play a central role in this: injuries can still emerge, form curves can be assessed, and coaches receive final pointers for their decisions. Particularly South American teams like Brazil and Ecuador use this phase intensively to refine their playing style and train automatisms.

The friendly matches also show which players still need to gain match practice in the coming weeks. For established powers like Brazil, it is about finding the right balance between workload and recovery. For smaller nations like Panama, such duels against top teams offer valuable insights into their own performance level.