Coach Juninho led the first training sessions for the Brazil men’s under-20 beach soccer national team this Friday (14) as they prepare for the Conmebol U-20 tournament. The two-a-day sessions with the 12 called-up players took place on Copacabana beach, where the team will continue all its preparations until the 19th. On the morning of the 20th, everyone will travel to Lima, Peru, where the fourth edition of the category’s main competition in South America will be held.
Among those called up are already experienced names, such as defenders Carlos, Yuri and Warlison, as well as newcomers Alberto and Caio, who are wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in their careers. Alberto, from Maranhão, spoke about the emotion of being called up.
The squad led by coach Juninho will travel on the 20th to Lima, Peru, where the tournament will be heldCredits: Luciana Vermell/ CBF
“The feeling I had when professor Rafael Cobrinha (Juninho’s assistant coach) got in touch with me was overwhelming. My heart started racing, I almost had a fit, I cried, I really cried, out of happiness. Then when my call-up was officially announced, it was incredible. There’s no way to explain this feeling, being here for the first time. I hope I can help the team a lot and, God willing, we’ll bring home the title,” he said.
One of the group’s leaders, Yuri made a point of stressing the importance of the competition. For him, who was part of the runner-up squad in 2023, in the last edition, when Brazil was defeated by Paraguay, it is essential that everyone is aware of how important it is to win back the title, just as they did in the first edition, in 2017, when they beat Argentina, the team that had denied them in the 2019 final.
“It’s very rewarding for me to be able to help with my experience and pass on some situations to the younger players to help them. I really believe in the group, in this wonderful coaching staff. We had our first training session today and it was excellent, the guys who are coming in are giving their all, and I believe that if we keep this up until the end of the competition, with commitment and determination, the results will be the best possible,” Yuri said.
Coach Juninho is counting on keeping the core of the team together and maintaining its defined style of playCredits: Luciana Vermell/ CBF
The defender’s message matches his coach’s thinking. With a winning history as a Brazil national team player for many years and, since 2019, as coach of the under-20 team, Juninho is backing the group he has in hand to win the category’s main continental tournament again.
“This group is basically the core from the other competitions, and I’m going to keep the style of play, the way we play; they already understand that, I’m not going to change much. Expectations are wonderful, it’s a difficult competition, we know it’s hard to play against Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, but we’re going very well prepared for this tournament. Today’s first training session was wonderful, I feel the boys are relaxed, cheerful, happy, including the two who are here for the first time, and that’s what matters,” the coach said.
The training schedule continues with two sessions a day on Copacabana beach until next Wednesday (19).
See the squad called up for the Conmebol U-20
Goalkeepers: Driei (Botafogo-RJ) / Girlian (Vitória-BA)
Defenders: Carlos (Botafogo-RJ)/ Yuri (Flamengo-RJ)/ Warlison (Sampaio Corrêa-MA)
Wingers: Eduardo (Sampaio Corrêa-MA)/ Gabriel Lemos (Botafogo-RJ)/ João Pedro (Flamengo-RJ)/ Rai Oliveira (Vasco da Gama-RJ)
Forwards: Alberto (Sampaio Corrêa-MA)/ Caio (Projeto MdO-RN)/ Kawan (ABC/Galinhos-RN)
Coaching staff
- CBF Manager: Lavoisier Freire
- CBF Administrative Coordinator: Maurício Leite
- CBF Planning: Luan Neiva
- Technical Coordinator: Chicão Castelo Branco
- Operations Coordinator: Mão
- Coach: Juninho
- Assistant Coach: Rafael Cobrinha
- Fitness Coach: Fábio Costa
- Goalkeeper Coach: Filipe Telesforo
- Performance Analyst: Thiago Silveira
- Doctor: Dr. Lucas Bastos
- Physiotherapist: Mauricio Bity
- Kit Manager: João Eudson
- Videomaker: Matheus Miranda
- Communications Officer: Gabriel Badaró
Brazil’s match schedule at the 2026 Conmebol U-20
Group B: Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay
GROUP STAGE
Matchday 1 - Saturday, 22/8
Brazil has a bye
Matchday 2 - Sunday, 23/8
Ecuador vs Brazil - 12:00 p.m. (BRA) / 10:00 a.m. (PER)
Matchday 3 - Monday, 24/8
Brazil vs Uruguay - 2:00 p.m. (BRA) / 12:00 p.m. (PER)
Matchday 4 - Wednesday, 26/8
Brazil vs Uruguay - 12:00 p.m. (BRA) / 10:00 a.m. (PER)
Matchday 5 - Thursday, 27/8
Paraguay vs Brazil - 2:00 p.m. (BRA) / 12:00 p.m. (PER)
Saturday, 29/8
- 9th-place match
- 7th-place match
- Semifinal 1
- Semifinal 2
Sunday, 30/8
- 5th-place match
- 3rd-place match
- FINAL
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.