Brazil will face Chile at Maracanã on Thursday for Matchday 17 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. As reported by La Voz, Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, is already qualified, while Chile sits at the bottom of the standings, eliminated from contention and likely missing the tournament for the third time in a row.
Brazil’s performance has not been as strong as in previous qualifiers. Despite securing their place early, the team has experienced unexpected losses, including a 4-1 defeat to Argentina and some dropped points in home matches. In June, the Brazilian football federation appointed Carlo Ancelotti, a coach with five Champions League titles, to lead the team. Ancelotti’s goal in these final matches is to test various lineups and identify potential players for the 2026 squad.
This approach has resulted in some key players being left out. Neymar, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo will not participate, as Ancelotti focuses on giving chances to younger talents and assessing their performance under pressure. The emphasis is on development rather than immediate results.
On the other hand, Chile is in a challenging situation. Missing the World Cup has already led to the departure of coach Ricardo Gareca, with Nicolás Córdova now at the helm as interim coach. He has made significant changes, opting to exclude established players from the successful past, including Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sánchez, and Charles Aránguiz.
Historically, Brazil has a significant advantage in their matches against Chile. Out of 76 official and friendly games, Brazil has won 54, while Chile has secured 14 victories, with eight matches ending in a draw. The last meeting took place in Santiago in October 2024, where Brazil emerged victorious with a score of 2-1, thanks to goals from Igor Jesús and Luiz Henrique. Eduardo Vargas scored for Chile.
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