Brazil vs Paraguay

Automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is potentially on the line as Brazil and Paraguay go head-to-head at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s touchline debut didn’t pan out as expected, with Ecuador holding Brazil to a scoreless draw last weekend. Furthermore, the Selecao only made three attempts in 90 minutes en route to their fourth winless outing in the previous five (D3, L1). That wasn’t an ideal response to a 4-1 battering at the hands of bitter rivals Argentina in March but still preserved their spot in the top six. As a result, they remain in pole position to secure automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament. Paraguay’s visit could complicate the matter, knowing the Brazilians’ only World Cup qualifying defeat in 2024 came against this opposition in the reverse fixture (W3, D2, L1). Nonetheless, it’s no reason to panic, considering they had won three previous H2Hs via multi-goal margins.

However, Paraguay will be out to post their first away win against Brazil since 2004 and solidify their pursuit of World Cup qualification for the first time since 2010. Gustavo Alfaro’s side reaffirmed their continental credentials with a stunning 2-0 win over Uruguay in the previous round, extending their unbeaten run in the ongoing cycle to nine games straight (W5, D4). Another triumph here would guarantee Paraguay’s direct qualification, though a six-point cushion to the playoff spot should make them feel comfortable. Still, they’ve yet to win on foreign soil in the current qualifying cycle (D5, L2), netting only four goals in those seven games.