One of the lasting memories from the 2025 IFAF Americas Flag was Brazil’s men claiming a narrow and nervy 7-0 win over Argentina to secure fifth place at the continental championships and with it a place at this summer’s IFAF World Flag 2026. An emotional postgame celebration united the victorious players and coaches and their female counterparts who had themselves booked their trip to Düsseldorf that same afternoon.
Always entertaining, the Brazilians will arrive in Germany hoping to climb beyond that fifth team from the Americas tag and produce a challenge that can elevate them to rub shoulders with the expected contenders.
In Opposition in Düsseldorf
Currently ranked 15th in the world, the women face two familiar opponents from the Americas in Group B. Panama has won the most recent meetings between the rivals in the 2023 and 2025 continental, but if Brazil is to take that next step, victory needs to come against a team ranked three places higher.
Brazil last faced Canada in the 2023 Americas and lost 21-0 and their highest ranked opponent is Japan, a team that beat them 34-21 in the group stages two years ago as both nations advanced to the round of 16.
Brazil’s men are up against number three seed Mexico, bronze medalist at the 2024 world championships Switzerland and host Germany. Mexico beat Brazil 50-26 when the nations met at the 2023 IFAF Americas, while Switzerland beat them in the group stages in Israel in 2021.
Players to Watch
Men: Adner Sanchez Ladeira, wide receiver
Women: Jennifer Leitão, defensive back
IFAF World Championships Pedigree
Brazil has played for an IFAF world championship medal once, when the women lost the battle for third place in 2021 to Austria, but still qualified for flag football’s first appearance at The World Games. Two years ago, they finished 13thoverall.
The men finished third behind the United States and Spain in 2024, eventually coming in 25th, having beaten India and Finland in the placement games to finish 17th in 2021.
The Coaches
Brazil women’s head coach Ingrid Camargo has been coaching the Women's National Team since 2018, at the IFAF World Championships in Panamá. She was at the helm when Brazil won their group at the 2021 World Championships in Israel and lost the bronze medal game to Austria, and at The World Games in Birmingham Alabama where Brazil, lost to the United States in the quarterfinals. Camargo was also in charge at the last two IFAF Americas continental championships and at the world championships in Finland in 2024.
Brazil men’s head coach Heitor Medeiros started coaching American football in 2014 when he was only 17. He has coached with five teams since then: Mossoro Petroleiros (DC), Bulls Potiguares (HC), Rio Preto Weilers (OC), and Sorriso Hornets (HC/ST).
He is the receivers coach for the Brazil national tackle team, head for the flag football program (men and women) of Recife Mariners and the defensive coordinator for the tackle program of Mariners. In 2015 he started coaching flag football and joined the Brazil national team as offensive coordinator, before taking charge in 2022.
In Preparation
Having held training camps in Sao Paulo and Mexico, Brazil’s men’s and women’s teams will be the top-ranked team taking part at the 2026 South American Regional Flag Football Championship in Colombia from June 26-28.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela will be in opposition in Medellín for the tournament that is endorsed by IFAF.
Photo: Grasiela Gonzaga @foto.gragonzaga
