•Brazil forward, Vinicius Jr (L) celebrates goal against Paraguay with teammate
Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America yesterday with a lackluster 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.
The five-time world champions punched their ticket to the finals in Canada, the United States and Mexico thanks to Vinicius Jr, reports AFP.
The Real Madrid star poked in from close range in the 44th minute in Sao Paulo after a cross from new Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha.
It was the perfect gift for the Italian Ancelotti on his 66th birthday, having seen his new side held 0-0 by Ecuador last week in his first game as coach.
Former Real Madrid boss Ancelotti praised his team’s “commitment” and “attitude”.
“It was a good match with a very good first half, although obviously we suffered a bit because Paraguay are very solid opponents and we slowed down a bit in the second,” he said.
Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Venezuela in Montevideo had raised the prospect of qualification for both Brazil and Paraguay at Corinthians Arena.
Paraguay needed only a point to qualify while Brazil knew they could advance with a win.
In the event it was Brazil who seized the opportunity presented by Venezuela’s loss with Vinicius scoring the only goal just before half-time.
Brazil had struggled to create many chances up until that point, with Cunha squandering a golden chance in the 35th minute after heading wide from point-blank range.
Cunha made up for it with a key part in the goal, capitalizing on good work from Raphinha to dart into the box and whip in a low cross for Vinicius, who stabbed home the finish.
The win lifted Brazil into third place in the South American standings with 25 points from 16 games, guaranteeing them a top-six finish and an automatic qualifying berth.
Looking ahead to next summer, Ancelotti said he had “a very long list” of 70 players in mind, including Neymar, who was missing with injury.
He added: “I really liked those who were with me in this squad for their commitment, their attitude, and the atmosphere.”
The defeat left Paraguay with 24 points, meaning they need one point to secure their first World Cup appearance since 2010.
Ecuador book place
Surprise package Ecuador joined Brazil by sealing qualification with a point following a 0-0 draw with Peru in Lima.
In other games, Uruguay edged closer to qualification with their win over Venezuela while Chile were eliminated with defeat to Bolivia.
Goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta secured all three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay to leave the two-time world champions firmly on course for a place in next year’s finals.
Like Paraguay, Uruguay need only a point from their final two games to qualify.
Venezuela, who are bidding to reach the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history, are seventh with 18 points from 16 games.
Argentina, who have already qualified, came from behind to frustrate Colombia with a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz fired Colombia into the lead with a superb 24th minute goal, and the Colombians were given a further boost midway through the second half when the world champions were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez’s dismissal.
But Colombia’s hopes of a vital win were dashed nine minutes from time when Thiago Almada weaved into the box and found the target to level.
The top six finishers in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed team advancing to an intercontinental playoff.
Bolivia defeated Chile 2-0 to end the former South American champions’ hopes of qualification.
It is the third straight World Cup that Chile have missed out on.
The loss continues a dramatic fall from grace for “La Roja”, who won back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016.
