The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is taking eSports to the next level. In a landmark move, they've launched a High Performance Program for the Brazilian eNational Team, directly importing the elite training philosophy from the iconic Seleção.
This Tuesday, CBF brought the worlds of physical and digital football together. Three key figures from the senior national team's staff—General Executive Coordinator Rodrigo Caetano, fitness coach Cristiano Nunes, and psychologist Marisa Santiago—led groundbreaking sessions for the nation's top eSports athletes. The focus? Applying world-class emotional and physical preparation techniques to boost in-game performance.
This initiative signals a major commitment from CBF under president Samir Xaud, following a restructuring of its eSports department led by Felipe Feijó. The federation is now investing proportionally in its digital athletes, ensuring they receive support on par with their counterparts on the pitch.
Rodrigo Caetano emphasized this new era of integration, stating that the high-performance expertise honed over decades with the five-time World Cup champions will now fuel the growth of Brazil's eSports categories. The inaugural program brought together the nation's best, with eFootball Console players attending in person while stars from eFootball Mobile, Rocket League, and EA FC joined remotely.
The athletes received a masterclass in peak performance. Psychologist Marisa Santiago delved into the mental game, teaching techniques for managing competition anxiety and controlling emotions to unlock higher levels of play. Fitness coach Cristiano Nunes then connected physical well-being to esports success, highlighting pillars like nutrition, mental control, and motor skills as foundational for sustained elite performance.
This pioneering program blurs the line between traditional and digital athletics. It's a clear statement that in the modern era, champion mentality and peak conditioning are essential, whether you're lacing up boots or gripping a controller.
