Brazil Faces Uphill Battle in Crucial World Cup Qualifiers Against Chile

Brazil finds itself in a precarious position as it approaches a must-win World Cup qualifier match against Chile. The South American giants, known for their five World Cup triumphs, currently sit in fifth place in the CONMEBOL 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. With only 10 points from eight games, they are ahead of Venezuela solely on goal difference, and risk missing out on the World Cup for the first time in history.

The team’s struggles have been compounded by the absence of key players due to injuries. Manager Dorival Junior will have to make do without the services of Éder Militão, Alisson, Bremer, Guilherme Arana, and Vinícius Júnior. Additionally, Dorival, who took charge in January, has faced challenges since replacing the interim coaches and has only won two competitive matches so far. “We can’t replicate on the pitch everything we do in training,” he acknowledged, as reported by Reuters.

Brazil’s track record in recent games offers little solace. A narrow home victory over Ecuador was followed by a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, a team that had managed only one goal in their prior seven qualifiers. Brazil’s inconsistency dates back to their elimination from the Qatar World Cup quarterfinals against Croatia.

The upcoming matches are crucial for Brazil. A slip-up could see them fall out of the qualification spots, with Paraguay and Bolivia lurking just one point behind. Making five changes to the squad, Dorival has called up Botafogo forward Igor Jesus to replace Real Madrid teenager Endrick for the match in Santiago. “Igor’s own experience and the moment he’s living is a little different,” Dorival explained.

Citing Jesus’s outstanding performance in the domestic league, where he has scored seven goals since joining Botafogo, the manager expressed confidence in his decision. “This might be the moment to find the balance we want,” he added, hoping for a turning point in the team’s form.

As Brazil battles Chile, who are ninth in the standings, they will field a team with Ederson as the goalkeeper, alongside defenders Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Abner. The midfield will see André and Lucas Paquetá, while the attack features Savinho, Raphinha, Rodrygo, and Igor Jesus.

The stakes are high for Brazil as they strive to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. The match against Chile in Santiago and a subsequent fixture against Peru could define the future path of the Selecao under Dorival Junior.