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Both Brazil and Panama begin their World Cup preparations with a friendly at the Maracana on Sunday night.
The hosts will be desperate to pick up some momentum heading into the tournament, after an underwhelming qualifying campaign that saw them finish fifth in the CONMEBOL standings.
Meanwhile, Panama were unbeaten after six rounds of CONCACAF qualification (W3, D3), and will make only their second World Cup appearance this summer.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Brazil vs. Panama key stats
- Brazil have lost just one of their last four friendlies (W2, D1).
- Panama have only won one of their previous four friendlies (W1, D2).
- Brazil are unbeaten in six previous H2Hs (W5, D1).
Brazil vs. Panama preview: Selecao safe for victory?
| Brazil | vs | Panama |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | FIFA Ranking | 33 |
| Neymar (128) | Most Caps | Anibal Godoy (159) |
| Neymar (79) | Most Goals | Jose Fajardo, Ismael Diaz (17) |
| 750 | Total Caps | 1486 |
| 65 | Total Goals | 122 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 0 |
Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, but not since 2002, and are not even among the top three favourites with bookmakers to lift the trophy a sixth time.
Selecao had a disappointing qualifying campaign by their standards, as although they qualified for the tournament, they did so in fifth place after sacking Dorival Junior halfway through.
Carlo Ancelotti has since replaced him and boasts an incredible CV at club level, and Brazil will be leaning on his experience to try and get this squad of players over the line.
Perhaps the standout and surprise inclusion was Neymar, who has not played for his country since 2023, and has recently picked up an injury that could see him ruled out for Selecao's opening group game against Morocco, alongside the friendlies before it.
In contrast, Panama had an excellent qualifying campaign where they were unbeaten across six CONCACAF matches (W3, D3), and they will now play in just their second-ever World Cup.
Their first was in 2018, but Panama failed to get out of their group, and they will be facing England again alongside Croatia and Ghana, with the former thrashing them 6-1 in the group stage eight years ago.
The visitors have grown since then though and are ranked 33rd in the world, 27 places below Brazil in sixth.
Thomas Christiansen's side will aim to frustrate Brazil here, although they have doubts over the fitness of Adalberto Carrasquilla and Yoel Barcenas, as well as captain and 159-time capped Anibal Godoy.
Brazil vs. Panama form guide & betting tips
| Brazil | vs | Panama |
|---|---|---|
LWDLW |
Form | WDLDW |
| 9 | Goals For | 7 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 4 |
DLW |
Friendlies | LDW |
Whispers predicts: Brazil 2-1 Panama
Brazil are 2/15 (1.13) favourites with bookmakers to win, but these odds are simply too short for us to back.
We do think Selecao will triumph on home soil though, but Panama will not make it easy for them.
BTTS – Yes at 6/4 (2.50) appeals to us given it has come through in each of Brazil's last three games, and three of Panama's previous four.
One player to focus on could be Lucas Paqueta, who is Brazil's second-top scorer behind Neymar in the squad with 12 goals, and also netted against Panama in the last H2H in 2019.
Paqueta also recently scored for Flamengo against Cusco in the Copa Libertadores, and so Paqueta to score anytime at 2/1 (3.00) is worth a shot in our eyes.
Overall, we are predicting a Correct score – 2-1 at 11/1 (12.00), which is a much longer shot but feeds into the narrative that Panama could give Brazil a close game.
> BTTS – Yes at 6/4 (2.50) | Likelihood: Possible
> Paqueta to score anytime at 2/1 (3.00) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – 2-1 at 11/1 (12.00) | Likelihood: Outsider