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What you need to know about Brazil vs. France at Gillette Stadium
The world will be watching Gillette Stadium Thursday when Brazil and France kick off at 4 p.m.
Brazil vs. France at Gillette Stadium: Three months before the 2026 World Cup gets underway in North America, two of soccer’s top national teams will meet for a game on the grass field at Gillette Stadium Thursday.
Here’s a little background on the circumstances, as well as how to watch if you aren’t in attendance:
When (and how to watch): Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
The game will be live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes and will be streamed on ESPN+. Tickets are still on sale, though the current slate of prices on Ticketmaster starts around $230.
Why is this game happening?
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In purely soccer terms, it’s a “friendly” (an exhibition match). The game has significantly less stakes than a few other international games happening Thursday, including a plethora of last-minute World Cup qualifier playoffs.
Still, it could be important for individual players on both teams as they make their closing arguments to managers about being selected for the squad this summer.
In a more logistical sense, the game is a test run for everyone involved (including for fans). The MBTA Commuter Rail will run special event trains in a precursor of their World Cup plans. Local organizers will get a run-through of the much-discussed security operation. And in a soccer-sense, both Brazil and France get a sense training and traveling as a team in North America.
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Who will be playing?
Brazil and France are two of the great powerhouses in world soccer. Between them, the two nations account for seven men’s World Cup titles. France has appeared in the last two World Cup finals (winning in 2018, losing to Argentina in 2022). Brazil is a nation synonymous with the Beautiful Game and holds more men’s World Cup wins than anyone else.
The stars are expected to play (for at least a little while). France’s Kylian Mbappe will face Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior, with the matchup also featuring a plethora of globally-known talents.
What makes this game notable?
While the circumstances of the short-term render it a less-impactful game (as all friendlies ultimately are), Brazil vs. France doesn’t happen a lot. The teams have met in major World Cup clashes before (notably France’s 3-0 win in the 1998 final held on French soil).
When two global forces like this meet, the world takes notice regardless of the circumstances.
On a more local level, the game represents another example of teams playing on grass at Gillette Stadium, a fact which has been more the exception rather than the rule since the Foxborough facility swapped in artificial turf in 2006.
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Trivia: In the very first World Cup game between Brazil and France, the South Americans emerged victorious 5-2 in a semifinal matchup. What legendary player scored a hat-trick that day?
(Answer at the bottom.)
Hint: He eventually played for the New York Cosmos.
Scores and schedules:
Today, the Red Sox open the 2026 season in Cincinnati against the Reds at 4:10 p.m.
The Celtics defeated the Thunder 119-109 in a heavyweight NBA matchup at TD Garden on Wednesday. Boston will host the Hawks on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Bruins defeated the Sabres 4-3 in overtime also on Wednesday night. On Saturday, the Bruins welcome the Wild to TD Garden at 5 p.m.
On Friday, the Fleet play the Sceptres in Toronto at 7 p.m.
And on Saturday, Legacy FC host the Utah Royals at Gillette Stadium at noon.
More from Boston.com:
- Jaylen Brown leads Celtics to statement win over Thunder: 7 takeaways
- Jayson Tatum explains what’s allowed Jaylen Brown to turn into an MVP contender
- Why is Jaylen Brown getting more trips to the free-throw line? ‘Maybe complaining’
- 2026 Red Sox preview: 4 questions facing Alex Cora’s club
- Here’s where experts rank the Red Sox entering the 2026 season
- Kraft-owned New England Revolution backing White Stadium renovation
- How did James Hagens fare in his pro debut with the Providence Bruins?
- FIFA reduces hotel room bookings in World Cup cities, including Boston
- In a fitting turn, Casey Mittelstadt delivered in one of Bruins’ gutsiest wins
Red Sox Opening Day: The team released an Alex Cora-narrated video about “creating a team.”
Ready, Set, GO! pic.twitter.com/e3GnlkHPqx
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 26, 2026
On this day: In 1979, Larry Bird’s Indiana State and Magic Johnson’s Michigan State met in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Johnson’s Michigan State emerged victorious, but the long-term winner was the NBA (and basketball fans everywhere). The rivalry between the two Hall of Famers came to define a generation of the NBA and helped vault the league into the modern era.
Daily highlight: Jaylen Brown threw it down on the Thunder during the Celtics’ Wednesday win.
DON’T JUMP WITH JB 🫣 pic.twitter.com/YuKWdusIq9
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 26, 2026
Trivia answer: Pele
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