Brazil has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a solid victory over Paraguay. With strong teamwork and standout performances, the win secured their place on the world stage, bringing joy to fans and national pride to Seleção .
Coach Ancelotti’s Plan Works Perfectly in World Cup Qualifiers
A New Coach, A Big Goal
When Carlo Ancelotti took over as the head coach of Seleção , he made one thing clear his main goal was to make sure Seleção qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during this international break. His first match was against Ecuador, a strong team sitting in second place in the South American qualifying group.
Ancelotti knew Ecuador wouldn’t be easy. Seleção played carefully in that away game, focusing on defense and avoiding risks. The result was a 0-0 draw, and Brazil came home with one important point.
All Eyes on Paraguay Match
Brazil Had to Win And They Did
Ancelotti and his team had already circled the Paraguay match at home as the key game. The task was clear: win against Paraguay, and hope Venezuela loses to Uruguay. If both happened, Seleção would officially secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Before Brazil even kicked off, good news arrived Venezuela lost 2-0 to Uruguay. That meant Brazil’s path was wide open. All they had to do now was win.
And they did. Seleção defeated Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a brilliant goal by Vinícius Júnior in the 44th minute. The goal came just before halftime and turned out to be the match-winner.
Brazil Becomes Third Team to Qualify from South America
Vinícius the Hero, Ancelotti Delivers
With this win, Seleção officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup. They are now the third team from South America to book their ticket. The top six teams in the group will qualify directly for the tournament, and Brazil is now safely in the top three.
Here’s how the table looks:
- Brazil: 25 points from 16 matches (3rd place)
- Ecuador: 25 points, same as Brazil, but ahead on goal difference
- Venezuela (7th place): 18 points from 16 matches even if they win both remaining games, they can only reach 24 points, which is not enough to catch Brazil or Ecuador.
The same is true for Bolivia (17 points), Peru (12 points), and Chile (10 points) all too far behind, with only two matches left.
Looking Ahead
Brazil now has time to focus on building a strong team for the World Cup in 2026. Ancelotti’s job is off to a strong start. With young stars like Vinícius Jr. stepping up and the team playing well under pressure, fans have plenty of hope for what’s to come.
