Brazil have officially booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday, thanks to a decisive first-half goal from Vinícius Júnior. The win not only secures Brazil’s ticket to the tournament with two matches to spare but also marks a memorable first triumph for head coach Carlo Ancelotti, on the day of his 66th birthday.
Vinícius Delivers, Brazil Make History
In a tight contest held on home soil, it was Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior who made the difference. In the 44th minute, he latched onto a pass from Matheus Cunha and slotted the ball past the Paraguayan goalkeeper to score the only goal of the game.
The result puts Brazil on 25 points, third in the CONMEBOL standings, and seven points clear of Venezuela in the intercontinental playoff spot, mathematically securing direct qualification.
This marks Brazil’s 23rd consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals, the only nation in football history to have qualified for every edition of the tournament.
Speaking after the match, Vinícius said:
“We had to win for our people. Now, we can use the time ahead to prepare and keep improving. Let’s enjoy this moment, everything now will be about the World Cup.”
However, the forward will miss the next match against Chile due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards.
Ancelotti’s First Win with Brazil Comes on His Birthday
Tuesday’s victory was significant for head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who recorded his first win in charge of the national team. The legendary Italian tactician, who took over the Brazilian side after his tenure with Real Madrid, celebrated the win on his 66th birthday, a perfect gift from his players.
“This is a special moment,” Ancelotti said. “The team is growing, and we’ve achieved a big goal today. But our journey is just beginning.”
Argentina Hold Colombia in Dramatic Draw
Elsewhere, group leaders Argentina played out a thrilling 1-1 draw with Colombia at home. Down a goal and reduced to 10 men, the reigning world champions fought back with a stunning strike from Thiago Almada in the 80th minute.
Luis Díaz had put Colombia ahead in the 24th minute with a dazzling solo goal. In the 70th minute, Argentina’s Enzo Fernández was shown a straight red card for dangerous play. But Almada’s superb finish rescued a point.
Despite not winning, Argentina extended several impressive records, including an eight-match unbeaten run at home against Colombia in World Cup qualifiers. Lionel Messi also returned to the starting lineup, making his 193rd international appearance.
Chile Crash Out, Golden Generation Says Goodbye
There was heartbreak for Chile, which suffered a 0-2 loss to Bolivia and was officially eliminated from qualifying for the third straight World Cup.
With just 10 points from 16 matches, Chile are mathematically out of contention, marking the end of an era. Veteran stars Alexis Sánchez (36) and Arturo Vidal (38) are expected to bid farewell after years of service, including back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016.
Ecuador and Uruguay Edge Closer
Ecuador also clinched qualification with a 0-0 draw against Peru, sitting second on the table with 25 points. Meanwhile, Uruguay strengthened their position with a 2-0 win over Venezuela, moving up to fourth with 24 points. With just two matchdays remaining, South America’s road to the 2026 World Cup is entering its final chapter. While some dreams have already come true, and others have been dashed, the fight for the remaining spots promises high drama to the very end.
