Brazil and Croatia clash in a huge friendly match at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday with both sides looking for a vital win heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil come into this game off the back of a 2-1 defeat to France, while Croatia were victorious in their last game, beating Colombia 2-1. With both sides hoping to make a big impact this summer, this friendly could provide plenty of insight into who might see success in North America.
Best Bets & Predictions
Both teams to score looks like a decent shout for this time with both teams finding the net with regularity recently. We fancy Croatia to continue their good form and we’re backing them to come out of this friendly with a 2-1 win.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both teams to score | 4/6 @ Betfred (60.0%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Both teams have scored in 60% of meetings between these two nations, with just two matches between them seeing both teams fail to hit the net. 50% of Brazil’s last sic games have seen both teams score, the same story can be said of 50% of Croatia’s last six too. |
| Correct Score – Croatia 2-1 Brazil | 12/1 @ Bet365 (7.7%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Croatia enter this match with eight wins from their last nine games but have conceded in four of those, typically when facing slightly tougher opposition. By contrast, Brazil have lost three games in the same period and only kept four clean sheets. Croatia average 3.11 goals per game in their last nine, while Brazil average 1.66 goals per game over the same period. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
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Recent Form
Brazil’s recent form has been mixed in the lead‑up to their friendly defeat against France, showing inconsistency across their last six matches. Brazil’s form over those games stands at two wins, one draw and three losses, averaging 1.83 goals per match, with only two clean sheets and three out of six games exceeding 2.5 goals – underlining open play but defensive frailties.
Their most recent outing saw a 2‑1 loss to France in a high‑profile friendly, with Kylian Mbappé and Hugo Ekitike scoring before Brazil pulled one back through Gleison Bremer, despite France playing with ten men for a large portion. Other recent results include a 1‑1 draw with Tunisia and a 5‑0 away win over South Korea, but also a narrow 0‑1 defeat to Bolivia, showing flashes of quality tempered by dropped points.
Croatia’s recent form has been very strong heading into the international break, with five wins across their last six matches, scoring 15 goals (2.5 per game) and keeping three clean sheets, reflecting both attacking threat and defensive resilience.
Their 2‑1 friendly victory over Colombia saw them come from behind — after Jhon Arias opened the scoring — with Luka Vuskovic and Igor Matanovic turning the game around before half‑time. This continued Croatia’s unbeaten run extending from the 2026 World Cup qualifying phase, where they showed consistency domestically in Europe. Across these matches they’ve demonstrated resilience after conceding early, important traits ahead of competitive fixtures.
Brazil team news
A handful of key players have withdrawn through injury, including goalkeeper Alisson and several others replaced in the roster. Vinicius Jr trained and is available after a minor issue, while veteran centre‑back Marquinhos has recovered from injury and returned to training.
The squad is being used to finalise selection ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with coach Carlo Ancelotti testing options in attack and defence. Neymar’s fitness remains a talking point, with fitness and selection debated in the build‑up.
Croatia team news
Key veterans like captain Luka Modrić are expected to feature as manager Zlatko Dalić balances experience with preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Modrić played limited minutes in the recent 2‑1 win over Colombia, suggesting fitness management is a priority ahead of Brazil. Croatia’s side combines seasoned players such as Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić with opportunities for emerging talent, and no major injuries have been reported within the group travelling to Orlando. The friendly tests Croatia against top opposition shortly before the summer finals.
Head-to-Head: Last 5 Meetings
These two nations have played each other five times over the years, with Croatia coming out on top on just one occasion. Brazil have won three times with the first ever meeting between these sides ending in a draw.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 9/12/22 | Croatia 0-0 Brazil (Croatia won 4-2 on penalties) | World Cup |
| 03/06/18 | Brazil 2-0 Croatia | Friendly |
| 12/06/14 | Brazil 3-1 Croatia | World Cup |
| 13/06/06 | Brazil 1-0 Croatia | World Cup |
| 17/08/05 | Croatia 1-1 Brazil | Friendly |
Conclusion: Who will gain momentum in key friendly?
With both sides hoping to experience a big summer at the 2026 World Cup, this could be a key contest in the build up to the tournament. We’re backing both teams to score at 4/6 with Betfred but, when looking for a little more value on prices, we like the look of Croatia to win 2-1 at 12/1 with Bet365.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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