Brazil women's team kick off 2026 with a thrashing of Costa Rica | OneFootball

Wearing the number 10 jersey, Kerolin opened the scoring season for the Brazilian National Team against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

The Brazilian Women’s National Team thrashed Costa Rica 5-2 on Friday night (27th) in their 2026 season debut, at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, in the Costa Rican city of Alajuela. Jheniffer (2), Kerolin, Tainá Maranhão, and Adriana secured Brazil’s first victory of the year.

The result kept Brazil’s 100% record in all six matches against La Tricolor and highlighted the offensive strength of the team led by coach Arthur Elias. That’s six wins, with 23 goals scored and only three conceded.

Jheniffer celebrates after scoring for the National Team against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

The Match

Brazil threatened the Costa Ricans before five minutes had passed. Casually, Kerolin sent a low cross into the box. Jheniffer tried to finish, but didn’t connect cleanly. On the rebound, Mariza tried, but her shot was blocked. If those shots hadn’t been blocked, Brazil would have posed a real threat to their opponents early on.

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Kerolin opened the scoring at the ten-minute mark with a beautiful goal. She received a lovely assist from Duda Sampaio and, with skill, chipped it over goalkeeper Solera.

The goal spurred the National Team on, and they doubled their lead four minutes later. Tainá Maranhão, who had been getting the better of her marker on the left wing, played it to Jheniffer, who placed a beautiful shot into the net.

Tainá Maranhão celebrates her first goal for the Brazilian National Team; she terrorized Costa Rica’s defense throughout the matchCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

Shortly after, Maranhão made a great solo run and almost scored a wonder goal. The ball, however, went just wide of the post and deserved to go in for the beauty of the play. But what didn’t happen in the 17th minute came in the 27th. She dribbled past the defender and finished low to score her first goal for the Brazilian National Team.

Brazil even scored a fourth before the end of the first half. Tainá Maranhão once again made a difference down the flank. The play was ruled offside.

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In stoppage time, Herrera broke away at speed on a quick counterattack. Recovering on the play, Mariza disrupted the number 7’s shot with a sliding tackle, and it was up to Thais Lima to make a great save and prevent the home team’s first goal. There was still time for Bia Zaneratto to try a shot from the edge of the box.

Back for the second half, Duda Sampaio, with skill, placed the ball on Jheniffer’s head, but her header lacked power and direction. In almost back-to-back plays, Kerolin had a one-on-one with the keeper but shot straight at her. Then, Jheniffer was in the right place at the right time, but didn’t react quickly enough to seize the chance in the box and shoot.

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Costa Rica pulled one back six minutes into the second half. Chinchilla received a long ball, Thais Lima tried to intercept but was dribbled past. Facing an open goal from outside the box, she found the net. In the 21st minute, Chinchilla pressured Thais, stole the ball, and scored.

Standout player Tainá Maranhão made a difference again and won a penalty. Adriana converted from the spot.

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Near the 40-minute mark, a shot from Jheniffer forced a good save from goalkeeper Solera, and Tamires threatened with a header.

Despite a second half in which Brazil struggled with the home team’s improvement, the Canarinhas turned the win into a rout with Jheniffer’s goal, who received a cross from Adriana and, like a true center forward, slotted it home.

Adriana celebrates her penalty goal against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas / Staff Images / CBF

History Made

At 17 years, ten months, and 16 days old, Thais Lima became the youngest goalkeeper ever to debut for the Brazilian Women’s National Team. She surpassed former keeper Mayla by three days, who took the field in the 14-0 rout over Trinidad and Tobago at 17 years, ten months, and 19 days, on July 14, 2000.

At 17 years, ten months, and 16 days, Thais Lima became the youngest goalkeeper ever to debut for the Brazilian Women’s National TeamCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

Schedule

Next Wednesday (4th), the Canarinhas face Venezuela at the Mexican Football Federation Training Center in Toluca, Mexico, at 6pm (Brasília time), and wrap up this first FIFA window of the year with a friendly against Mexico, on March 7, at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, in Mexico City, at 8pm (Brasília time).

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Lineup

BRAZIL: Thais; Fê Palermo (Bruninha) (Luany), Mariza, Thais Ferreira, and Tamires; Tainá Maranhão, Duda Sampaio (Brena), Kerolin (Gabi Zanotti), and Jaque (Ana Vitória); Jheniffer and Bia Zaneratto (Adriana). Coach – Arthur Elias.

Starting lineup of the Brazilian Women’s National Team for the friendly against Costa RicaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF

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