Midfielder Dulce Maria is set for her second World Cup appearance with the Brazilian national team, this time at the U-20 tournament kicking off in Poland. The 18-year-old, born in São Bento do Trairi, Rio Grande do Norte, is part of the squad beginning their Group B campaign this week.
The Brazilian team arrives at the tournament in high spirits. In the context of the senior team, Brazil leads its group in the 2026 World Cup with 7 points from 3 games, recording 2 wins and 1 draw. Their recent form of 4 wins and 1 loss in the last five outings, including a 2-1 defeat to Norway on July 5th, shows a team in good shape. The campaign numbers are solid: 7 goals scored and only 1 conceded, for a positive goal difference of +6. The senior team's next challenge is a friendly against Australia, away from home, on September 25th, as listed on our fixtures page.
Who is Dulce Maria?
Dulce Maria is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder for Corinthians' under-20 side. In 2026, she has made 18 official appearances for the São Paulo club, scoring an impressive 13 goals in the Brazilian Championship and the Paulista Championship for the age group. Her football journey started early, at age 11, when she trained with adult women. A family detail marks her story: she has a twin sister named Clara. Both played futsal and were selected after the 2022 Brazilian School Games for trials at Corinthians, where they were accepted together. Photographer Luciana Vermell provided images of the athlete for the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
What is her previous World Cup experience?
This is not Dulce Maria's first time wearing the famous yellow jersey at a global tournament. In 2025, she played in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where Brazil finished in fourth place. The player believes this prior experience will be an asset. "I believe the experience I had at the U-17 World Cup in 2025 can help me a lot," said Dulce Maria in material released by Globo Esporte. She added, "I hope this World Cup is even better than the one I played in 2025, both individually and for the team."
What is Brazil's schedule at the U-20 World Cup?
The Brazil women's U-20 national team is in Group B of the tournament hosted in Poland. The matches will be held at the Estádio de Bielsko-Biala in Bielsko-Biala. The opening match is scheduled for September 5th, Thursday, against Tanzania, kicking off at 10:00 AM Brasília time. The second match will be against Canada on September 8th, also at 10:00 AM. The group stage concludes on September 11th, when Brazil faces England, again at the same time. The group composition and full schedule can be checked on our tournament standings page.
What is the context for the Brazilian women's team?
This is a time of transition and talent renewal for Brazilian women's football. Players like Dulce Maria represent the new generation being developed at the youth academies of clubs like Corinthians and tested in international competitions. Being called up for a second World Cup in different age categories in such a short interval highlights the coaching staff's confidence in her potential. Her performance for Corinthians' U-20s, with a high goal-scoring rate, was certainly a decisive factor. The foundation supporting the senior team, currently well-placed in the 2026 World Cup, may be strengthened in the future by names emerging now, as shown in the detailed profiles of our squad.
Brazil's opening match at the U-20 World Cup against Tanzania is set for 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 5th, 2026.
