The Brazilian National Team defeated Paraguay 1 x 0 on Tuesday (10), at the Neo Química Arena, securing their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, two rounds in advance in the South American Qualifiers.
🇧🇷🇧🇷 FIM DE JOGOO E VAGA NA COPA DE 2026!!
Estamos OFICIALMENTE RUMO AO HEXA! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/BeePeN8x8b
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 11, 2025
In general, Brazil showed improvement compared to what had been presented in the last two and a half years.
Intensity, proximity for tables, and high and firm marking were some of the characteristics that the National Team showed in Itaquera.
⚽ The game
In his debut commanding the National Team on home soil, Carlo Ancelotti was honored by the Brazilian fans with a “congratulations” mosaic, for his 66th birthday.
QUE HOMENAGEM! 🇧🇷✨ pic.twitter.com/CGurLD9lIX
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 11, 2025
With the ball rolling, Brazil imposed itself on the field, even though the dominance of the actions was not reflecting in real chances of goal.
In the first half, Matheus Cunha – alone in the small area – managed to do the “impossible” and headed all wrong.
Martinelli fez grande jogada pela esquerda, cruzou, mas Matheus Cunha desperdiçou a chance de abrir o placar para o Brasil contra o Paraguai. pic.twitter.com/IjlWjYXn8O
— ge (@geglobo) June 11, 2025
But the new Manchester United striker redeemed himself still in the first half and gave the assist for Vini Jr to score the first goal of the National Team in the “Ancelotti era”.
VINIIII JR.!!!!
TINHAA QUE SER ELE!! BELO PRESENTÃO DE ANIVERSÁRIO PARA O MISTER 🇧🇷🇧🇷
🎥TV GLOBO pic.twitter.com/1JmKVR5d3z
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 11, 2025
The sad note of the initial stage was precisely the yellow card of Vini Jr that takes him out of the next match of the National Team, against the eliminated Chile, in September.
E o Vini hein…
Ganhou cartão amarelo após essa entrada e tá fora do próximo jogo… pic.twitter.com/rjqIFsSZmK
— PES MIL GRAU (@Pesgrau) June 11, 2025
After the break, the Brazilian National Team came back with even more desire to seek the second goal.
With a lot of dedication to make up for the lack of understanding and the own deficiency by the tactical changes planned by the fourth coach in two and a half years (Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Jr, previously), Brazil was very well until the middle of the second half.
O bom e velho futebol brasileiro… Dribles, passes em velocidade… Por pouco a Seleção não ampliou o placar. pic.twitter.com/ArISA6Kc9n
— ge (@geglobo) June 11, 2025
Cáceres, in fact, took it off the line after Bruno Guimarães finished covering Gatito Fernández.
After the middle of the complementary stage, the National Team slowed down, and Paraguay grew on the field, even giving some small scares to Alisson.
But the score was no longer altered in Itaquera, and Ancelotti achieved the first victory with the Brazilian National Team and secured the spot in the 2026 World Cup.
🚦 How it stands
With the victory, Brazil reached 25 points and moved up to third place in the Qualifiers, mathematically guaranteeing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Venezuela, in seventh place, has only 18 points and can no longer surpass the National Team.
Thus, history repeats itself! Brazil continues to be the only team in the world to participate in all editions of the World Cup, since 1930.
In its 23rd World Cup, the National Team will seek to end the drought that has lasted since 2002 and the conquest of the coveted hexa.
The Brazilian National Team ends its participation in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in September, when it receives Chile, on the 4th, and visits Bolivia, on the 9th.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
📸 Wagner Meier – 2025 Getty Images
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