Miss BumBum Contestants Prepped for World Cup of Butts

Brazil's toughest competitors are showing just how seriously they take the beautiful game -- and we're not referring to Pelé or Ronaldinho.

Miss BumBum's 27 contestants for 2018 did what Brazilians do -- pose with soccer balls -- for a photo shoot to promote the annual pageant ... as well as the upcoming World Cup. Brazil's a 2-seed, if you're as interested as these ladies clearly are.

This year's competition -- BumBum, not the World Cup -- includes 2 transgender entrants for the first time in the legendary pageant's long and storied 8-year history.