In a tense showdown at São Paulo’s Corinthians Arena, Brazil clinched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay. 

The decisive moment came from Vinicius Júnior, whose clinical strike illuminated the night and marked a triumphant home debut for Brazil’s new head coach, Carlo Ancelotti. 

The former Real Madrid maestro, alongside Vinicius, recreated their club magic to propel the Seleção to the global stage.

The win solidified Brazil’s place among the top six South American teams, securing direct entry to the expanded 48-team World Cup. With 25 points, Brazil sit level with Ecuador, who also qualified after a gritty 0-0 draw against Peru. 

Ecuador edges ahead in second place due to more victories, while defending champions Argentina, already qualified, lead the pack with 35 points despite a 1-1 stalemate against Colombia.

Argentina’s draw in Buenos Aires saw Lionel Messi uncharacteristically subdued. Colombia struck first through Luis Díaz in the 24th minute, but the tide turned when Enzo Fernandez’s red card in the 70th minute left the hosts reeling. 

Yet, Julián Alvarez’s low, driven shot in the 81st minute salvaged a point before a roaring crowd of over 80,000 at the Monumental de Nunez.

Elsewhere, Uruguay moved closer to qualification with a 2-0 home win over Venezuela, thanks to goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta. 

Meanwhile, Chile’s hopes crumbled with a 2-0 loss to Bolivia, sealing their third consecutive World Cup absence and costing coach Ricardo Gareca his position. 

Venezuela, with 18 points, now battles Bolivia for the seventh spot, which offers a playoff chance. Brazil, however, can now focus on fine-tuning for 2026.

Source: Agencies

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