Brazil has officially secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the South American qualifiers.
The match, held in front of a packed crowd, marked a historic moment for both the nation and new head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who earned his first win in charge of the Seleção.
The decisive goal came in the second half when Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. capitalized on a golden opportunity created by Matheus Cunha.
The highly-rated playmaker—rumored to be on the verge of a move to Manchester United—threaded a defense-splitting pass to set up Vinicius, who calmly tapped home from close range.
The goal ensured Brazil maintained their perfect record of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA World Cup.
An elated Vinicius Jr. reflected on the milestone win: “We absolutely needed this victory to book our place in the World Cup. Now, Coach Ancelotti has the time and space to implement his vision. It wasn’t our best performance, but we got the job done—and that’s what matters.”
This result was particularly important after Brazil’s goalless draw against Ecuador in Ancelotti’s debut last week. The win over Paraguay now provides momentum and breathing space for the legendary Italian manager, who took over amid high expectations and mounting pressure.
Elsewhere in CONMEBOL: Drama in Argentina, Ecuador Also Qualifies
In Buenos Aires, World Cup holders Argentina were held to a thrilling 1-1 draw by Colombia. The visitors struck first through Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, who danced past three defenders before firing past Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina’s troubles deepened when Enzo Fernandez received a red card for a high boot, reducing the hosts to ten men.
Despite the setback, Lionel Messi’s side found a way back into the match. Thiago Almada scored a crucial equalizer with just nine minutes remaining, salvaging a point and maintaining their momentum heading into the final stretch of qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Ecuador became the latest team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, grinding out a 0-0 draw away to Peru. The result was enough to secure their spot, joining Brazil and Argentina among the elite South American nations heading to North America for the global showpiece.