Brazil has officially secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in São Paulo on June 10, 2025. The decisive goal was scored by Vinícius Júnior in the 44th minute, marking a successful debut win for new head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Key Details
Qualification Confirmed: The win guarantees Brazil a top-six finish in the South American (CONMEBOL) qualifiers, which awards direct entry to the expanded 48-team World Cup set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Vinicius Junior’s Impact: The Real Madrid forward scored the only goal of the match after a low cross from Matheus Cunha, sealing Brazil’s qualification and delivering Ancelotti his first win as Brazil’s manager.
Standings: With this result, Brazil now has 25 points from 16 games, ensuring they cannot be overtaken for one of the six automatic qualification spots, with only two rounds remaining in the qualifiers.
Historic Consistency: Brazil maintains its unique record as the only nation to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA World Cup since the tournament’s inception.
Other Qualifiers: Alongside Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador have also confirmed their places at the 2026 World Cup from South America.
Match Overview
- Brazil controlled much of the match, displaying composure and defensive solidity, even though the attacking performance was not dominant.
- The victory also ended Paraguay’s nine-match unbeaten streak in the qualifiers.
- The qualification was clinched after Uruguay’s earlier win over Venezuela meant Brazil needed a victory to guarantee their spot.
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Manager and Team Reactions
Vinícius Júnior expressed his satisfaction after the match:
“I’m very happy with today’s result. We needed to win at home for our fans too and qualify for the World Cup, which was our goal. Now [Ancelotti] will have more time to work, to see what he can improve. Today wasn’t one of our best games, but the important thing in qualifying is to win and prepare well for the World Cup.”
What’s Next
With qualification secured, Brazil will use the remaining qualifiers and upcoming friendlies to further refine their squad and tactics under Carlo Ancelotti, aiming to add a sixth World Cup title to their storied history.
Brazil’s qualification continues their unbroken legacy of World Cup appearances and sets the stage for another campaign on football’s biggest stage.
