Television pictures showed hundreds of people waiting to greet the team at the airport, which was decorated with murals depicting great Brazilian players and teams of the past.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on its official Web site that more fans were waiting for the team at the hotel.

"It was a reception worthy of the five-times world champions," said the CBF.

The CBF added that the Kuwaiti Army sealed off the hotel, allowing only guests within a 200-metre radius.

Coach Dunga and the Brazilian-based players travelled on a commercial flight from Sao Paulo to Frankfurt, where they joined the European-based players. The squad then travelled to Kuwait on a charter flight.

Brazil are unbeaten in three games under former captain Dunga, who replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira following their disappointing World Cup performance when they were knocked out in the quarterfinals.

They also play Ecuador in a friendly in Stockholm on Oct. 10.