Brazilian football expert previews 2025 Copa America | OneFootball

To get the lowdown on the 2025 CONMEBAL Copa America, we caught up with Brazilian football journalist and presenter Cintia Barlem ahead of the tournament.

The competition kicks-off on 12 July with 10 teams competing from across South America in Ecuador for the major honour - including Kerolin’s Brazil.

Her nation face Chile, Colombia and Paraguay in the group stage where they will vie for a place in the knockouts.

As the 2025 Copa America comes into focus, read Barlem’s thoughts on the tournament, Brazil’s chances and Kerolin’s impact below!

What do you expect from Brazil at the upcoming tournament?

“I think Brazil are the favourites to win. They already have eight titles, and they are in the same group of Colombia who are their big rivals at this tournament.

“The expectations about Brazil because there’s maybe not strong competition at the tournament for them.

“For the Brazilian national team, I think this tournament is about getting the group together to play together – I’d say it’s more like that.

“Arthur Elias, the coach will be able to be with the players for a longer time so it’s the most important thing in this moment. Training a lot, being with the players for a month.

“For Brazil, winning Copa America guarantees a place in the Olympics in 2028 and this is the most important thing for them in this tournament.

“It will be a big surprise if Brazil don't win this tournament.”

What does the Copa America mean to players and fans in South America?

“It’s a big tournament for CONMEBAL – the confederation in South America.

“It’s something CONMEBAL wants to get better, but we have problems like places, stadiums and this tournament will be in Ecuador where they don’t have a domestic league so it’s not that strong.

“The last edition was in Colombia and I was there and it was a nice tournament because the fans went to the games, but now they don’t have big expectations like the European Championships have in terms of ticket sales.

“Here is not the same quality of Europe yet.”

How do you think Kerolin will perform at the tournament?

“Now I think she and Lorena are the two players that are the best in the Brazilian national team so I think Kerolin has the opportunity to be the best player at the tournament.

“I believe that she will be because she played very well against France in a recent friendly, so I think it’s a great opportunity for her to be the best player at the tournament.”

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“I interviewed her early in her career and she said to me she would be the best player in the world and I think she’s running for that soon because she’s very dedicated and capable of getting there.

“She has grown very fast in England and the WSL is the championship she needed to play in to grow more, so I believe staying at City is the best thing for her to achieve this title she wants.”

What impact could the Copa America have on her at City?

“I think it’s a good thing for her because she can test herself in another tournament and it’s very important for her to prove she’s one of Brazil’s best players and be the leader of this team.

“That is important for her, maybe not for the tournament or the rivals, but to be the leader of the Brazilian national team. I think this is important for her to return to City like a leader.”

What has Kerolin’s impact been on women’s football in Brazil?

“She is very well known and famous, she is one of the players in Brazil’s national team who’s the most known by the fans.

“Kerolin knows how to use social media, she is brilliant with that and she knows how important it is to give an interview to speak well. I think this is very important alongside the football she plays.

“She is very known here because of that and she knows the role she has here and it’s very nice to have her here in Brazil.”