In the early hours of Friday, Brazil will face Chile in the 17th round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Here’s what to expect from this matchup.
Match Preview
Brazil has already secured a spot in the World Cup, but they aim to finish the qualifiers strongly. Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, the team has played two matches and remains defensively strong, conceding no goals so far. Although the squad is not at full strength, Brazil is still a tough opponent at home.
Notably, four key players from Real Madrid—Vinícius, Rodrygo, Militão, and Endrick—are not in the squad. This provides an opportunity for younger players like Estevão and João Pedro to shine. Additionally, Marquinhos will make his 100th appearance for the national team, adding motivation for Brazil to perform well.
On the other hand, Chile is undergoing significant changes. Following a disappointing qualifying campaign and the resignation of Ricardo Gareca, Nicolás Córdova is now the interim head coach. He has overhauled the squad, omitting veterans like Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal while giving debuts to nine new players.
Chile has struggled away from home, with 7 losses in 8 away matches and only 1 goal scored, the worst record in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. The team has not scored in 2025, making it unlikely they will find the net at the Maracanã. Their primary goal now is to avoid a large defeat.
Probable Lineups
- Brazil: Alisson, Vanderson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Caio Henrique, Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Raphinha, João Pedro, Estevão, Richarlison
- Chile: Gillier, Ormazábal, Maripán, Kuscevic, Suazo, Osorio, Echeverría, Loyola, Tapia, Brereton Díaz, Aravena
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Chile has lost five consecutive official matches against Brazil.
- Chile has not scored in official matches in 2025.
- In qualifying, Chile has gained just one point in eight away matches.
Prediction
Given the current circumstances, Brazil appears to be the favorite against a struggling Chilean team. The hosts have the quality and motivation to please the fans at Maracanã and should be able to conclude their home qualifying campaign confidently. It’s likely that the visitors will once again fail to score.
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