U17s enter final stretch before CONMEBOL South American opener | OneFootball

Brazil’s Men’s U-17 Futsal National Team is entering the final stretch of preparation for its debut at the 2026 CONMEBOL South American Championship. After a training period at the Philippe Coutinho Institute in Rio de Janeiro, the delegation arrived last Wednesday (6) in Luque, Paraguay, host of the competition.

The first phase will take place between August 9 and 13. The semifinals will be played on the 15th, and the grand final is scheduled for the 16th. Brazil will make its debut this Sunday (9) at 11:30 a.m. (Brasília time) against Ecuador at Complejo Suma, beginning its journey in search of the title.

The South American Championship represents the main goal for this U-17 generation in 2026. After about a year of work, the team arrives in Paraguay aiming for the continental title. CBF Futsal national teams manager Lavoisier Freire highlighted the importance of this moment for the squad.

"Here we begin a cycle that we have always said would be the final chapter in the history of this category. It is the only one in which we have not yet won the South American title. We have reached this stage of preparation fully focused and determined to write that chapter by also winning the U-17 title. Everyone is focused and aware of the importance of this moment. The work has been going on for a year, and now we have reached the decisive phase."

Lavoisier Freire, CBF Futsal national teams manager, praised the U-17 category’s preparation for the South American ChampionshipCredits: Disclosure/BSWW

Since November of last year, the coaching staff has been monitoring the group’s development through training periods and international competitions. Now, the final adjustments are focused exclusively on the opening match. For head coach Diogo Barros, the team arrives ready to face the season’s biggest challenge.

"We have been preparing this generation since November of last year. During that period, we played in three competitions, held three very important training camps, and played great matches. Now we have reached our main goal, which is the CONMEBOL South American U-17 Championship. Two months ago we were in Spain and, based on the feedback we gave the players, we noticed very positive progress. These final training sessions are essential to fine-tune important details and make sure we arrive fully prepared for the competition."

The training sessions held in Rio de Janeiro and already on Paraguayan soil served to refine the final details before the competition. Technical supervisor André Siqueira gave a positive assessment of the squad’s response during this period.

"They were four very productive days of training. The team responded very well to the stimuli proposed both by the fitness preparation and by the coaching staff. It is a group we already know well, coming off four consecutive call-ups. We are very well prepared, and the players arrive in a very good frame of mind, focused and confident for the tournament."

In addition to the technical and tactical aspects, the fitness staff and medical department worked in an integrated way to ensure that the group arrived in Paraguay in the best possible condition for the start of the competition.

Fitness coach Michel Petri emphasized that the team begins the tournament without any absences and ready for its debut.

"All the players arrived in Paraguay physically well and with no injury absences. In this final stretch, we are placing emphasis on strength work, always integrated with tactical and technical activities. Everything is planned together with the coaching staff so that the players arrive in the best possible condition."

Next, physiotherapist Júnior reinforced that all players are medically fit and stressed the importance of the preventive work carried out by the medical team throughout the competition.

"All the players are clinically well and prepared for Sunday’s debut. We have a very important role with the national team, which is to ensure the players recover so they are able to perform at their maximum level. Physiotherapy plays a fundamental role in this preventive process, together with the entire medical team, led by Dr. Daniel Bohn. At this moment, we have no absences; all the players are fully fit to play. We will continue working match by match to keep them at a high level and, if possible, injury-free throughout the competition."

The atmosphere built throughout the preparation was also highlighted by the coaching staff. As part of the category’s work, assistant coach Vanildo Neto stressed confidence in the team’s potential to make a strong run in the South American Championship.

"I am very happy for the opportunity to return to the youth categories and be part of work that has been carried out very well. I’m joining to contribute to a group that has been playing great matches and that now has a major challenge ahead, the CONMEBOL South American U-17 Championship. We are very confident that we can have a great campaign and win this title, which is so important to all of us and to the CBF."

Among the players, there is also a sense of confidence ahead of the start of the competition. After a cycle marked by achievements and collective progress, the group believes it is ready to fight for the title.

Defender Cauã Farias highlighted the squad’s motivation to represent Brazil in another international challenge.

"It is very rewarding to be here again with the Brazilian National Team. We continue preparing for another great challenge and pursuing a very important goal, which is the only title still missing for this category. We had very good preparation and will arrive at the South American Championship well prepared and confident to have a great tournament."

The team’s No. 10, Luka, also highlighted how well the squad absorbed the work carried out by the coaching staff and said the group is ready for the debut against Ecuador.

"Diogo gave the team a lot of information, and we were able to absorb everything very well during training sessions, video analysis, and the entire preparation process. We are very focused and ready for the CONMEBOL South American U-17 Championship."

The strong moment being experienced by Brazil’s U-17 national team is the result of a consistent preparation cycle. Before competing in the CONMEBOL South American Championship, the team won three international titles this season: the Dakar en Jeux Festival, the South American Youth Games, and the Nations League.

Now, Brazil is seeking to crown this work by winning its first CONMEBOL South American U-17 title. Brazil’s only title in the competition came in 2016, when the sport was still administered by CBFS.

BRAZIL’S SCHEDULE AT THE CONMEBOL SOUTH AMERICAN U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP

(Brasília times – The matches will be broadcast live on SporTV.)

● August 9 – Ecuador vs. Brazil | 11:30 a.m.

● August 10 – Brazil vs. Bolivia | 2:00 p.m.

● August 12 – Brazil vs. Peru | 11:30 a.m.

● August 13 – Argentina vs. Brazil | 2:00 p.m.

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