From stage to pitch: Gigi Pires makes her U17 World Cup debut

From the stage of a children’s TV show to the football pitches of Morocco, Gigi Pires has traded dance steps for a ball at her feet. At 16, the São Paulo native is experiencing the biggest moment of her career: her first U-17 Women’s World Cup. As a child, Gigi was approached by a modeling agency and, in addition to appearing in commercials, joined a cast of young dancers on a television show. Football entered her life through the encouragement of her father, Renato Pires, a futsal coach. While balancing dance with other activities, Gigi spent her free evenings attending the football school he ran. What began as an experiment soon became a passion. “I started playing with the boys, grew to enjoy it, and developed a desire to become a footballer,” she recalls. Gigi Pires lined up alongside her national team teammates during the national anthem before their opening match against Canada at the U-17 World Cup Credits: Fabio Souza / CBF At seven, Gigi began playing futsal and passed a trial for Centro Olímpico in São Paulo, where she started playing outdoor football. Her progress paved the way for a move to São Paulo FC and, at 13, her first call-up to Brazil’s U-15 national team. “It was an incredible feeling, a dream come true. When they called me, I started crying. It was for a training camp. It was the result of years of hard work,” says the player, who also competed in the U-15 South American Championship. Now more mature and experienced, Gigi sees a new role for herself within the national team. Alongside earning her place on the pitch, she wants to help her younger teammates develop and strengthen the squad’s unity. “I’ve improved technically and mentally, and I have more responsibility. I also try to help the younger players, teach them the importance of communication, and be a leader on the pitch,” she explains. Gigi Pires during the match against Canada in Brazil’s U-17 World Cup opener Credits: Fabio Souza / CBF A dream called the World Cup Brazil’s U-17 women’s national team opened the 2026 U-17 Women’s World Cup with an emphatic victory. On Sunday afternoon (18), at the Mohammed VI Women’s Complex in Salé, Morocco, Brazil came from behind to beat Canada 6–2 in the opening round of Group C. Gigi is confident in Brazil’s potential. She highlights the squad’s unity and determination to fight for the title. “I’m so happy. It’s a dream coming true. The group is very close-knit, full of energy, and we’re coming into this really strong. Our goal is to win the title,” she says. Brazil’s U-17 national team gathered after their opening match against Canada at the World Cup in Morocco Credits: Joern Pollex / FIFA To face top-level opponents, the player knows they will need to combine speed, precision, and confidence. “We need to make good decisions, execute well, and be ourselves. Our individual qualities also help build a strong team,” she explains. Brazil’s next match is against Ghana at 3 p.m. on October 21, at the Mohammed VI Women’s Complex in Salé, Morocco. The match is part of the second round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.