Brazil ready for Under-20 women's opener v Ecuador | OneFootball

Brazil is ready to take the first step in pursuit of another continental title. On the morning of this Wednesday (04), the Brazilian National Team completed its preparation at the Ypané Women's Football High-Performance Center for the debut in the 2026 CONMEBOL Women's Under-20, a competition in which it defends an absolute hegemony: ten titles in ten editions.

The team will take the field this Thursday (5), at 6 PM, against Ecuador, at the Luis Alfonso Giagni Stadium in Villa Elisa, for the second round of Group B. The match will be broadcast on Sportv. Besides the Ecuadorians, Brazil will face Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia in the group stage.

For coach Camilla Orlando, the moment marks a special chapter in her career. Announced in June 2025, Camilla led the Under-20 team in five friendlies. There were three wins, one draw, and one loss. This will be her first official competition in charge of the team. "The expectations are the best. I think, at this moment, it is the most important competition of my career. Being able to participate in such a big championship and return to the youth category, where I started and where I am so enchanted," she highlighted.

According to the coach, the preparation was planned in detail, focusing not only on the physical aspect but also on the tactical and emotional growth of the athletes. "It was very special to be at Granja, to feel the value of being the Brazilian National Team and being at our home. We made a preparation with a lot of load control and a physical, tactical, and emotional progression so that they arrive in the best possible way," she explained.

Coach Camilla Orlando in training at Granja ComaryCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

DEBUT REQUIRES ATTENTION

The first challenge in the competition promises to be balanced. Camilla highlighted the evolution of Ecuadorian football and projected a great confrontation right at the debut. "Ecuador is a team that has been developing a lot, very technical and with a lot of mobility in the middle. It's a team that expands the field and the game, so we studied a lot to understand how to enhance our aggressive way of marking," she analyzed.

Despite Brazil's tradition, the coach of the Amarelinha avoids any atmosphere of favoritism and emphasizes the need for Brazil's evolution throughout the competition. "Debuting is always important, but we want to develop within the games. We hope to be at our best against a great opponent, which is Argentina, but we know that Bolivia and Peru have also been developing," she stated.

MORE COMPETITIVE SOUTH AMERICAN

Camilla Orlando also highlighted the growth of women's football on the continent, a scenario that has made competitions increasingly contested. "South American football has been developing. We saw this in the main team, in the Copa América, and also in the Under-17, decided in detail. Other countries are evolving, not only internally but with the support of Conmebol," she evaluated.

The realization of the first Women's World Cup in South America, scheduled for next year, is pointed out as another factor of boost for the sport. "This impacts all teams. There is greater interest in athlete development, and we even see an exchange of players between countries. The trend is to become increasingly difficult, with teams getting closer to Brazil," she said.

Undefeated in the history of the tournament, Brazil begins another campaign surrounded by expectations and with the responsibility of maintaining a hegemony that spans generations. Starting this Thursday (05), the ball rolls, and the team under Camilla Orlando's command goes in search of the eleventh South American title and has the mission to show that the tradition remains alive.

CONMEBOL Women's Under-20

Brazil vs. Ecuador (Group B)

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Time: 6 PM (Brasília time)

Location: Luis Alfonso Giagni Stadium, in Villa Elisa (Paraguay)

Where to watch: Sportv

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.