Brazil's spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is anything but secure. The five-time World Cup winners currently sit in fifth place after eight CONMEBOL 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. So far, Brazil has only earned 10 out of a possible 24 points and suffered defeats to Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay.
The Selecao needs to take home three points against Chile, but the team will have to do so without Vinícius Júnior, Éder Militão, Alisson, Bremer and Guilherme Arana. All five players are nursing injuries and are unavailable to compete during the October international break. Dorival Junior now has the tough job of replacing his superstars.
Brazil's Predicted Lineup
Dorival Junior's squad will be without some of its best players when Brazil faces Chile in what is a must-win match for the Selecao.
Here's what Brazil's XI could look like against Chile on Oct. 10.
- GK: Ederson—The goalkeeper will make his first start for Brazil since Oct. 2023 as Alisson recovers from a hamstring injury.
- RB: Danilo—Brazil's captain played every minute of the Selecao's last six competitive matches and has become one of Dorival Junior's most trusted players.
- CB: Marquinhos—The Paris Saint-Germain man will earn his 92nd cap for Brazil come Thursday's match.
- CB: Gabriel—After making just one appearance for Brazil at Copa América 2024, Gabriel will get the opportunity to play alongside Marquinhos in the aftermath of Militão's thigh injury. The center-back will be Brazil's main target on set pieces.
- LB: Abner—Without Arana available, Abner could be in for his first senior cap for Brazil.
- CM: André—The Wolves midfielder might have missed out on Copa América 2024, but he started against Ecuador and Paraguay in Brazil's two most recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
- CM: Bruno Guimarães—The midfielder's accurate passing and defensive efforts give his side the advantage over Chile. He could find himself on the bench, though, should Dorival Junior look to field a more attack-minded lineup.
- CM: Lucas Paquetá—Paquetá must use his creativity to get Brazil onto the scoresheet, something the Selecao could not manage against Paraguay in September.
- RW: Raphinha—Raphinha is arguably the most in-form Brazilian player in the world at the moment. The 27-year-old comes into the match with six goals in 11 matches for Barcelona. Although Raphinha is likely to start on the wing, Dorival Junior could also drop him into the midfield to give him more freedom, especially if the manager wants to start Savinho.
- ST: Igor Jesus—The striker job is up for grabs and Igor Jesus seems poised to slot into the role over Real Madrid's Endrick.
- LW: Rodrygo—Without Vinícius Júnior in the squad, Rodrygo gets to start in his preferred position. The Brazilian previously played on the right-wing and as a No. 9 during the September international break.
Igor Jesus Makes a Major Impact
The Botafogo striker has been impressing for his club, and was drafted in for a surprise start in a World Cup Qualifier against Chile.
Dorival Júnior’s side have had a torrid time as of late, winning just three of their first nine qualifiers, raising major alarm bells around the nation. And they found themselves 1-0 down inside two minutes Thursday evening.
Yet their bacon would be saved in the dying seconds of the opening interval thanks to Igor Jesus, who marked his debut with a superb flicked header to level the score.
With the goal, the 23-year-old made history by being the first Botafogo score a goal for the Brazilian national team since Bebeto in 1998.
A Crucial Match for Both Teams
Brazil travel to Santiago on Thursday night to confront Chile in a critical CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Pressure is mounting on manager Dorival Junior, who has been at the helm for less than a year, as the Selecao find themselves at risk of missing out on the World Cup for the first time in history.
While the Samba Boys have not yet hit a full-blown crisis, the stakes are high; a disappointing October could send shock waves throughout the nation.
The five-time World Cup champions have participated in every tournament since the World Cup’s inception in 1930, but their chances of reaching the 2026 finals are now in jeopardy, even with the tournament expanding to 48 teams and CONMEBOL receiving two additional automatic qualifying spots.
Currently, Brazil sit precariously outside the top six, a position that has them vulnerable to elimination.
With just 10 points from eight matches, they are level with Venezuela and only one point ahead of Paraguay and Bolivia.
Notably, Paraguay handed Brazil a defeat on matchday eight last month.
Adding to the concern, Brazil have suffered losses against the current top three teams, resulting in only two victories in their last nine competitive outings.
The Selecao also faced elimination in the quarter-finals of the Copa America over the summer.
As Brazil prepares to face Chile – currently mired in crisis – their historical dominance suggests a favorable outcome.
Brazil have lost only one of their last 19 encounters against South American La Roja, and Chile's form points to more struggles.
Since the appointment of Ricardo Gareca, the Chilean national team has seen little improvement.
Once the proud winners of back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, Chile exited the last Copa America without scoring a single goal, and Gareca's first qualifier ended in a 3-0 defeat to Argentina.
The embarrassment continued as Chile became the first team in 67 matches to lose a home qualifier against Bolivia.
Their only victory in this qualifying cycle came against Peru, the only team below them in the standings.
Currently, La Roja sit in ninth place with a mere five points, and without significant improvement, they risk missing the finals for a third consecutive time – an outcome unimaginable after their strong 2014 World Cup run.
In response to their dismal performances, Gareca has made sweeping changes to the squad.
Veterans Mauricio Isla and Gabriel Arias have been dropped, while Ben Brereton Diaz’s poor form has also seen him omitted.
Chile will be without star player Alexis Sanchez, who is sidelined with an injury, alongside Matias Catalan and Vicente Pizarro.
Brazil, on the other hand, will be without key goalkeeper Alisson, who suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool's recent victory over Crystal Palace.
This paves the way for Ederson to earn his 26th cap.
Defensively, Brazil face their own injury challenges, with Bremer, Eder Militao, and Guilherme Arana all sidelined. Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes is poised to make his 10th appearance for the national team.
A Must-Watch Match in the US
Chile will receive Brazil for the Matchday 9 of the Conmebol Word Cup Qualifiers. Here's how you can catch all the action, whether on TV or via live stream in the USA.
Two struggling rivals will square off in a crucial matchup as Brazil and Chile look to reverse their fortunes. Brazil are reeling from a shocking defeat to Paraguay, a result that has left the Verdeamarelha with just 10 points from 8 matches. Despite their underwhelming performances, Brazil remains a dangerous team that cannot be taken lightly.
On the other side, Chile face an uphill battle with only 5 points from 8 games and little room for error. The Chilean squad is well aware of the daunting challenge that Brazil presents but knows they must aim for a positive result to salvage their campaign. It’s a tough assignment, but Chile will need to bring their best against a Brazil team desperate for redemption.
Chile face Brazil for the Matchday 9 of the Conmebol Word Cup Qualifiers this Thursday, October 10, with the match kicking off at 8:00 PM (ET).
This Conmebol Word Cup Qualifiers clash between Chile and Brazil will be available for viewers in the USA on Fanatiz.
The Big Picture
With both teams struggling to gain momentum, this match is a must-win for both sides. Brazil needs a win to climb the standings and avoid an embarrassing scenario of missing the World Cup. Chile, on the other hand, needs a win to show signs of life and regain their confidence. Igor Jesus' debut goal has injected a new wave of energy into the team, and his performance will be key in this critical match. The outcome of this match will have significant implications for both teams and for the overall dynamics of the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Don't miss out on this pivotal clash in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup Qualifiers! Tune in on Fanatiz for live coverage of the Chile vs Brazil matchup.
