Under Arthur Elias, Brazil women have a diverse squad, historic feats | OneFootball

Four tournaments, four finals, two titles, 25 opposing national teams, and 99 players called up. Since Arthur Elias was announced as head coach on September 1, 2023, the Women’s National Team has achieved not only impressive numbers, but significant accomplishments as well. By diversifying the squad, seeking out tough matchups, and securing unprecedented victories, Arthur has built a steadily rising path with the Canarinha.

“I’m proud to lead our national team and certain that we have already marked an important phase with a very positive impact on the history of Brazilian women’s football. I feel this is a life mission I have been given, and we will arrive ready for the biggest challenge, which is the World Cup next year,” Arthur Elias summed up.

In three years, there were 48 matches: 31 wins, five draws, and 12 losses. With 109 goals scored and 49 conceded, the National Team has improved its goals-per-game average:

2023 - 1.8 goals per match

2024 - 2.05 goals per match

2025 - 2.06 goals per match

2026 - 2.5 goals per match

Overall average - 2.27 goals per match

Under Arthur Elias, the National Team developed a more attacking style and man-marking approach Credits: Lívia Villas Boas / CBF

2024: resilience, historic achievements, and the stingiest defense

The coach’s first major challenge was the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, held between February and March 2024. Arthur Elias entered the continental competition, which brought together 12 national teams, with only two FIFA windows and five friendlies with the National Team in the second half of 2023.

He put together an impeccable campaign, beating Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Argentina, and Mexico, until the final, where Brazil suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the United States. Five months later, the team faced the greatest test of resilience and perseverance of the cycle: the Paris Olympics.

Finishing third in its group, the Canarinha advanced to the knockout stage for a run of matches that went down in history. In the quarterfinals, Brazil beat France for the first time — until then, there had been 12 meetings, with 7 wins for the French team and 5 draws.

Against then-world champion Spain in the semifinal, Brazil did not sit back and instead went on the attack, securing a 4-2 scoreline. In the final, the team made things difficult but was beaten 1-0 by the United States. The Olympic medal came after 16 years, matching the best result ever achieved by the National Team in the tournament: silver in 2004 and 2008.

Brazilian National Team celebration in the match against FranceCredits: Eddie Keogh - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

To cap off a glorious year, which recorded the lowest goals-conceded average (0.75 goals conceded in 2024 versus 1.02 overall), Brazil earned its first victory over Australia on the opponents’ home soil. With a previous record of six matches — five losses and one draw — the National Team beat the Matildas 3-1 and 2-1 in the November and December 2024 friendlies played in Australia.

Rivalry with the U.S. and South American supremacy: a new chapter

In the first FIFA window of 2025, Arthur’s team ended a drought of more than 10 years by defeating the United States 2-1. It was also the first win over the Americans on their home soil: until then, there had been 12 matches and 12 losses.

In June this year, another chapter was written in one of the greatest rivalries in women’s football, when the Canarinha earned a second straight victory over the U.S., also coming from behind, this time in Brazil.

Still in 2025, the Brazilian National Team won the Copa América, which featured 10 countries, with an unbeaten campaign and an average of 3.5 goals per match. The second title of the Arthur Elias era, also unbeaten, came in the FIFA Series, held in April 2026 in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, with four national teams.

Diverse opponents and squad

In three years, the Women’s National Team faced 25 opponents, with Japan and the United States being the countries it played most often, six matches each. Colombia, which has established itself as one of the emerging powers in the sport in South America, comes next with five matches — and an unbeaten Brazil record of 2 wins and 3 draws.

Arthur Elias and coaching staff after historic victory over the United States Credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

6 matches: Japan and United States

5 matches: Colombia

4 matches: Canada

2 matches: Australia, Spain, France, Jamaica, Mexico, Venezuela

1 match: Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, England, Italy, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Portugal, South Korea, Uruguay, and Zambia

Beyond the tough matchups against teams with different playing styles, the coach’s guiding principle has been squad diversification. Since September 2023, Arthur has made 21 call-ups, not only for friendlies and competitions, but also for training periods outside FIFA windows.

Ninety-nine players took part in the cycle, with an average age of 26, coming from 41 clubs in 31 cities and 9 countries. Bringing together players from different generations and leagues enriches the group, the coach argues. “We have many options, and that’s good, but it isn’t easy. We have always had a wide range of players, based on merit from their performances at their clubs. Now we’re moving toward having more time with a more consistent core group,” Arthur said.

Where the called-up players play

Brazil - 50.8%

United States - 23.2%

Spain - 12.5%

Mexico - 4.5%

France - 3.5%

England - 2.7%

Portugal - 1.4%

Saudi Arabia - 1.2%

Germany - 0.4%

In three years, 99 players were called up by the coach; 50% play for foreign clubsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

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