Frank Christian
Brazil’s struggles in World Cup qualifying reached a historic low with a 1-0 defeat against their longtime adversaries, Argentina, at the Maracana in November 2023.
A header by Nicolas Otamendi in the second half replicated the 1-0 outcome from the 2021 Copa America final held at the same venue, but this match was notably Brazil’s inaugural loss at home during World Cup qualifiers.
Given their impressive history in World Cup events since 1930, this recent failure was particularly surprising. The Argentina setback marked Brazil’s third consecutive loss, following defeats in Colombia and Uruguay (both 2-1), alongside a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Venezuela in October, leaving interim coach Fernando Diniz without a win in four matches.
After 15 qualifying matches in the CONMEBOL zone, Brazil currently sits in fourth place. While this position would allow them to secure a spot in next year’s finals, the recent defeat to Argentina raised serious concerns, highlighting the volatility of their situation in the standings.
So, is Brazil’s journey to the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy? What steps do they need to take to reverse their fortunes?
Brazil World Cup qualifying: Upcoming matches and results
| Date | Match | Result |
| Sep. 8, 2023 | Brazil vs. Bolivia | 5-1 W |
| Sep. 12, 2023 | Peru vs. Brazil | 0-1 W |
| Oct. 12, 2023 | Brazil vs. Venezuela | 1-1 |
| Oct. 17, 2023 | Uruguay vs. Brazil | 2-0 L |
| Nov. 16, 2023 | Colombia vs. Brazil | 2-1 L |
| Nov. 21, 2023 | Brazil vs. Argentina | 0-1 L |
| Sep. 7, 2024 | Brazil vs. Ecuador | 1-0 W |
| Sep. 11, 2024 | Paraguay vs. Brazil | 1-0 L |
| Oct. 11, 2024 | Chile vs. Brazil | 1-2 W |
| Oct. 16, 2024 | Brazil vs. Peru | 4-0 W |
| Nov. 14, 2024 | Venezuela vs. Brazil | 1-1 D |
| Nov. 20, 2024 | Brazil vs. Uruguay | 1-1 D |
| March 20, 2025 | Brazil vs. Colombia | 2-1 W |
| March 25, 2025 | Argentina vs. Brazil | L 4-1 |
| June 5, 2025 | Ecuador vs. Brazil | 0-0 D |
| June 9, 2025 | Brazil vs. Paraguay | — |
| Sep. 9, 2025 | Brazil vs. Chile | — |
| Sep. 14, 2025 | Bolivia vs. Brazil | — |
What must Brazil do to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup?
The information presented underscores a key advantage for Brazil: the CONMEBOL qualifying process is lengthy and not a sprint.
While three successive defeats is far from ideal, with two-thirds of the qualification phase remaining after this rough patch, they have ample opportunity to improve.
If things go as hoped, the challenges of October and November 2023 will become a distant memory. Additionally, even in the face of a few more setbacks this season, there remains a way to recover.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams. This expansion allows for six automatic qualifiers from CONMEBOL, increasing from four, with the seventh-best team entering a playoff.
Brazil has never required a playoff for World Cup qualification, and it would be a notable embarrassment for them to face that scenario. Nevertheless, even if that situation arises, the Selecao is likely to find a way to represent themselves at the 2026 World Cup.
