page_title: Brazil national football team
section_title: Early history (1914–22)
hierarchical_section_title: Brazil national football team / History / Early history (1914–22)
caption_attribution_description: English: The first Brazil national football team's match ever, played vs. English team Exeter City in 1914.
context_page_description: The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in men's international football and is administered by the Brazilian Football Confederation, the governing body for football in Brazil. They have been a member of FIFA since 1923 and a member of CONMEBOL since 1916.
  Brazil is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup, being crowned winner five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Brazil also has the best overall performance in the World Cup, both in proportional and absolute terms, with a record of 73 victories in 109 matches played, 124 goal difference, 237 points, and 18 losses. Brazil is the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence nor need for playoffs.
  In relation to ranking standings Brazil fare well, having the all-time highest average football Elo rating system since 1970, and the fourth all-time peak football Elo Rating established in 1962. In FIFA's own ranking, Brazil holds the record for most Team of the Year wins with 12. Many commentators, experts and former players have considered the Brazil team of 1970 to be the greatest football team ever.
context_section_description: It is generally believed that the inaugural game of the Brazil national football team was a 1914 match between a Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo select team and the English club Exeter City, held in Fluminense's stadium. Brazil won 2–0 with goals by Oswaldo Gomes and Osman, though it is claimed that the match was a 3–3 draw.
  In contrast to its future success, the national team's early appearances were not brilliant. Other early matches played during that time include several friendly games against Argentina (being defeated 3–0), Chile (first in 1916) and Uruguay (first on 12 July 1916). However, led by the goalscoring abilities of Arthur Friedenreich, they were victorious at home in the South American Championships in 1919, repeating their victory, also at home, in 1922.
caption: Brazil's first match at home against Exeter City in 1914
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