Venezuela vs Brazil: Key Matchup in South American Qualifiers for 2026 World Cup

The highly anticipated match between Venezuela and Brazil in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup is set to take place on Thursday, November 14, at the Monumental de Maturín stadium in Venezuela. The match kicks off at 17:00 local time, which is 18:00 in Brazil and 22:00 in Spain.

Brazil, under the management of Dorival Júnior, is on a positive streak after securing victories over Chile and Peru in October. These wins have boosted the team’s confidence and position in the standings, placing them in fourth place with 16 points. A win against Venezuela would help Brazil surpass Uruguay and Colombia, who are currently ahead in the standings[2][3].

The Brazilian team will feature a strong lineup, with the return of Vinicius Jr. after recovering from an injury. Vinicius Jr. will join forces with Raphinha, who has been in excellent form, along with Savinho and Igor Jesus in the attack. The defensive line will include Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Abner, with Ederson in goal[2][3][6].

Venezuela, on the other hand, is under significant pressure, having dropped to eighth place in the qualifiers after six consecutive setbacks. The team will be led by assistant coach Leandro Cufré, as head coach Fernando Batista is suspended. Key players for Venezuela include Martínez from Corinthians, Ferraresi from São Paulo, and Savarino from Botafogo. The absence of Soteldo due to a suspension is expected to be filled by Machís[2][3].

The historical record favors Brazil, with 24 wins, four draws, and only one loss in 29 matches against Venezuela. In Venezuelan territory, Brazil has won all ten encounters in different cities[2].

The match will be broadcast in Brazil by SporTV and Rede Globo, while in Venezuela, it will be shown on Televen and TVES. For those following online, the match can be streamed live through various platforms, including the direct broadcast on As.com[6].

This matchup is crucial for both teams, with Brazil aiming to solidify its position in the qualifiers and Venezuela seeking to revive its chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.