Multiple members of the Brazil national team earned red cards Tuesday during a 1-0 loss against the U.S. Two Brazilian players were shown red cards during the game, and two more were shown red after the final whistle. Brazil head coach Arthur Elias was also given a red card earlier in the second half and was sent off, along with several members of his staff.
After the match, the referees lined up for the usual postmatch handshakes flanked by two security officers with plastic shields.
The U.S. battled its way through the highly physical second and final meeting with Brazil during this women’s soccer international window to claim the victory at the Arena Castelão in Fortaleza, wrapping up its trip to the 2027 World Cup host country. It was the team’s first win against Brazil in Brazil since 1997.
“My job is to have respect for the officials,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said in a news conference after the match. “My job is to make sure I stay in my technical area. There is only one person allowed to stand. And my job is to be a role model for my players, to display the behaviors to them that I want from them.”
After a 2-1 loss to Brazil on Saturday night, the U.S.’s response was overshadowed by the final 10 minutes of the match.
In the 63rd minute, Sophia Wilson nearly scored her second goal since becoming a mother, battling her way from the touchline toward the penalty box before firing a right-footed shot that deflected off a Brazilian defender before skidding past Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena. Though the goal stood, it was labeled an own goal on Brazil defender Isabela. Wilson scored the lone goal for the U.S. on Saturday against Brazil in São Paulo.
Sophia Smith causes chaos and forces a Brazil own goal 💪 pic.twitter.com/tN4wjoBHso
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2026
It was a fitting result that reflected the vein-popping tension and absurdity of the game. The energy, particularly in the first half, felt like a continuation of the high-octane duel from Saturday, full of crunching tackles and booming cheers from the 55,744 fans who packed the stadium. What transpired at the end of the match was less about football and more about an eruption of pressure and passion between top-ranked teams with a lengthy history and much at stake.
Brazil vs USWNT Misconduct Summary
TeamPlayer/StaffMisconduct Minute
USWNT
Rose Lavelle
Yellow card
17′
Brazil
Gio Garbelini
Yellow card
23′
Brazil
Arthur Elias
Yellow card
37′
Brazil
Bia Zaneratto
Yellow card
43′
USWNT
Lindsey Heaps
Yellow card
43′
Brazil
Taina Maranhao
Yellow card
48′
Brazil
Arthur Elias
Red (second yellow card)
78′
Brazil
Staff
Red card
78′
Brazil
Staff
Red card
78′
USWNT
Claire Hutton
Yellow card
82′
Brazil
Staff
Red card
89′
Brazil
Kerolin
Yellow card
90+1′
Brazil
Bia Zaneratto
Yellow card
90+4′
Brazil
Bia Zaneratto
Red (second yellow card)
90+4′
USWNT
Claudia Dickey
Yellow card
90+5′
USWNT
Emma Sears
Yellow card
90+8′
Brazil
Tarciane
Red card
90+9′
Brazil
Marta
Yellow card
90+9′
Brazil
Kerolin
Red (second yellow card)
Full Time
Brazil
Ludmila
Red card
Full Time
The U.S. entered the game having lost its last two matches against Brazil, on April 8, 2025, and this past Saturday — the first time it had lost to the same team back to back since 2011. Brazil, who were ranked No. 6 in the world by FIFA heading into this match, will be the first South American country to host a Women’s World Cup. Brazil last lost a major tournament final to the U.S. in the gold medal match of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
As she did after the first match in Sao Paulo, Hayes praised the Brazilian supporters in Fortaleza, calling it “a very, very … fantastic environment with a very noisy crowd. They bring a lot of energy.”
Around the 30th minute, Brazil and San Diego Wave forward Dudinha collided with USWNT center back Emily Sonnett and went down with an injury that required her to be stretchered off the pitch. She was replaced by Bia Zaneratto, a former Current player who scored the go-ahead goal against the U.S. on Saturday. Zaneratto was one of the four players who earned a red card, along with Kerolin, Tarciane and Ludmila.
Brazil was issued two red cards in added time, including one for an apparent elbow on Sophia Wilson 😳 pic.twitter.com/nSW2J4jEDj
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 10, 2026
Somehow, despite the severely disrupted flow of the match, there were still standout performances on both sides. Lorena kept Brazil in the game with six impeccable saves, including one double save from back-to-back U.S. shots on goal from forwards Emma Sears and Wilson in the first half.
Michelle Cooper, who started the game as a right winger for the U.S., played the second half as a fullback, a new position for her on the national team. Her strength, pace and ability to get involved in the attack proved hugely advantageous on both sides of the ball; she kept step with Brazil’s physicality in their offensive efforts and helped create an overload when the U.S. had the ball. Brazil did not record a shot on target in the game.
Tuesday night’s win brings the U.S.’s record against Brazil in Brazil to 3-3-2. Hayes has spoken at length about the importance of exposing USWNT players to Brazil’s uniquely passionate sporting environment, and while the South American side brought impressive numbers to both matches, this U.S. win will be remembered far more for its astounding disciplinary actions.
