Brazil vs. France score, stats, highlights, result as Mbappe strikes in international friendly win

Brazil vs. France score, stats, highlights, result as Mbappe strikes in international friendly win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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There was a stark contrast in World Cup preparedness between the two sides in Foxborough on Thursday as France secured a 2-1 friendly win over Brazil, even as Les Bleus played the final half-hour down a man.

Kylian Mbappe’s first-half goal had Didier Deschamp’s side in front at the break. While a questionable VAR decision saw Dayot Upamecano sent off for denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, it made no difference as Hugo Ekitike doubled the France lead shortly after despite them playing with just 10 men.

Eventually, the Brazil advantage took hold as the game wound down, and Bremer managed to secure a sloppy consolation goal for Carlo Ancelotti, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a defeat.

Brazil’s toothless approach to the match was visible all game long, even with the man advantage. Their attackers were unable to win back possession and breach France’s back line for much of the contest, and they did not appear ready to compete for the title at this summer’s World Cup.

France, on the other hand, were impressive throughout the game as they were comfortable killing off the match with possession before picking their moments with venom. Ekitike was a standout player for the first hour, and Mbappe’s opener brought him within one of France’s all-time record at just 27 years old.

Brazil vs. France final score

Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA, United States)
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. (USA)

Starting lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Wesley (Ibanez, 71′), Bremer, L. Pereira, D. Santos — Casemiro (Sara, 74′), A. Santos (Danilo, 71′) — Raphinha (Henrique, 46′), Cunha (Thiago, 71′), Vinicius Jr — Martinelli (Pedro, 63′).

France (4-4-2 right to left): Maignan (GK) — Gusto, Konate, Upamecano (red card — 55′), T. Hernandez — Olise, Tchouameni (Lacroix, 58′), Rabiot, Ekitike (Doue, 66′) — Mbappe (Thuram, 66′), Dembele (Kante, 58′).

Brazil vs. France full match stats

Brazil

Stat

France

Shots

Shots on target

46%

Possession

54%

365

Accurate passes

423

Corners

Fouls

Yellow cards

Red cards

Brazil vs. France highlights, key incidents

90+7 min: Chance, Brazil! OH DEAR! Vinicius Jr. has a huge chance to equalize with the last kick of the game, but comes up empty! Bremer feeds a delicious ball from out wide to the front of goal, where Vini comes sliding in, but he awkwardly goes with his left foot instead of the closer right, and barely makes contact at all!

78th min: GOAL! BRAZIL! Bremer has his first international goal and Carlo Ancelotti’s side isn’t done just yet! The Juventus defender manages to poke the ball over the line after their initial free-kick was recycled back into the area. It’s a sloppy goal, but they needed that!

65th min: GOAL! FRANCE!DISASTER FOR BRAZIL! Hugo Ekitike finishes off a vicious two-on-five counter-attack and France go 2-0 up despite their man disadvantage! How soft of a goal is that to concede?

Watch Hugo Ekitike goal in USA:

55th min: RED CARD! FRANCE! DAYOT UPAMECANO IS SENT OFF! Initially given a yellow card by the American referee, a VAR review brings a red for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity!

It’s a dubious decision, as there did seem to be lateral defensive cover for the foul just inside the top of the penalty area shaded to the right. Yet in the end, Upamecano has his yellow card cancelled and is shown a red! France will have to protect their lead down a man!

2nd half kickoff: The only change at the break is for Carlo Ancelotti, who takes off Raphinha and brings Luiz Henrique on in his place. Barcelona fans will hope that’s not due to anything fitness-wise, but in fairness, Brazil were toothless in the attack through that first half, so it very well could be tactical as well.

HALFTIME: Brazil 0-1 France

At the midway point of a match with an air of lethargy, France lead 1-0 on a goal from Kylian Mbappe, who is now one off the all-time career record for his country.

Les Bleus deserve their lead, as they’ve been the more impressive side, but that’s not saying much as neither nation have enjoyed too much risk-taking. It’s been a reserved approach from both teams, but France have managed to make it work much better.

37th min: Casemiro receives a yellow card for absolutely lambasting the referee in truly unacceptable fashion. He believed there was a foul on Wesley who was stripped of the ball before a shot that tested the Brazil goalkeeper. The referee did not whistle for the incident, so Casemiro let it fly verbally. He deserves that booking.

32nd min: GOAL! FRANCE! KYLIAN MBAPPE FIRES FRANCE INTO THE LEAD WITH A BRILLIANT FINISH!

France have been the better side, and they go in front on the counter as he gets clean through with blistering pace, splitting the Brazil defenders and finishing with a delicious little chip. He looks fully fit!

Watch Mbappe goal in USA:

22nd min: We’ve reached the cooling break with very few incidents so far in front of either goal. These breaks will be a fixture at the World Cup, so they’ve decided to institute them here in March to allow everyone to simulate the World Cup environment, even if the weather does not call for it.

Kickoff: They’re under way outside Boston! Gillette Stadium is the site of this one, as two giants of world football clash while preparing for the World Cup this summer.

Brazil vs. France talking points, analysisTalent the difference in this match

There was no confusion about which team was more talented outside Boston today, as France were clearly the superior side.

Mbappe’s moment of magic in the first half was the most stark contrast, but throughout the game, there was a difference in quality. Brazil’s role players were far inferior to that of France, and it resulted in silly fouls and lost possession.

France looked like a World Cup semifinal team, while Brazil looked far below that level.

Brazil do not look ready for the World Cup

There appears to be a lot of work for Ancelotti to do before the World Cup this summer.

Just like at Real Madrid in his final season, Ancelotti’s only outlet up front was Vinicius Jr, and it left very little for the other Brazil forwards to feast on. Wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Raphinha were invisible, while Matheus Cunha did his best to make a difference but had little to feed on.

Casemiro played well in midfield, but there’s not much else in the way of link-up play to trouble opponents in the build-up, and the defensive line is lacking in European talent. This did not look like a team capable of challenging for a return to World Cup prominence.

Brazil vs. France reaction

Post-match reaction from both teams to follow.

Brazil vs. France team newsBrazil team news

Gabriel Martinelli leads the attack as he attempts to nail down a place in Ancelotti’s final World Cup squad.

Arsenal’s Gabriel withdrew due to injury, with Bremer and Leo Pereira starting in central defence. Marquinhos has hip pain and will be kept back for the game with Croatia next week.

MORE:Full Brazil roster for March 2026

France team news

Kylian Mbappe is fit enough to play despite speculation that his knee injury was not properly treated earlier this season (he denied this).

William Saliba pulled out of the squad, so Ibrahima Konate partners Dayot Upamecano in defence.

Didier Deschamps appears to be trialling a 4-4-2 with Ousmane Dembele partnering Mbappe in attack. Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike are the wingers.

MORE:France squad for March 2026 international break

Brazil vs. France upcoming schedulesBrazil upcoming fixtures

Date

Competition

Match

Location

Tue, Mar. 31

Friendly

Brazil vs. Croatia

Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)

Sat, June 6

Friendly

Brazil vs. Egypt

Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland, OH)

Sat, June 13

World Cup MD1

Brazil vs. Morocco

MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)

France upcoming fixtures

Date

Competition

Match

Location

Sun, Mar. 29

Friendly

Colombia vs. France

Northwest Stadium (Landover, MD)

Tue, June 16

World Cup MD1

France vs. Senegal

MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)

Mon, June 22

World Cup MD2

France vs. TBD

Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)

Brazil vs. France score, stats, highlights, result as Mbappe strikes in international friendly win

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