The Rewind: Are International Friendlies Dumb? You Tell Me

Time is Running Out

I don’t usually keep close tabs on international friendlies, but with less than three months to go until the World Cup, some surprisingly juicy matchups are on the schedule.

For many nations, this window represents the final opportunity before World Cup rosters must be finalized, meaning most teams are rolling out their strongest possible lineups.

You’ll also notice that friendlies played this close to a major international tournament often feature opponents from different regions of the world. The goal is preparation — teams want to face playing styles similar to what they’ll encounter in the group stage. For example, South American powerhouse Brazil matched up against European giant France.

The Rewind: Are International Friendlies Dumb? You Tell Me — FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 26: Kylian Mbappe of France scores the team’s first goal during the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Scroll through some of the best moments from yesterday’s and today’s international friendlies.

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