In Lack-luster Match, Brazil Defeat Paraguay 1-0 to Qualify for World Cup

In a match that was far from convincing, Brazil secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup in North America with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday.

The win, which came courtesy of a Vinicius Jr. goal in the 44th minute, marked the first triumph of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign as coach.

The five-time world champions, who will compete in the tournament hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, relied on the Real Madrid star’s close-range finish to seal the deal.

The goal was set up by new Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha, who provided a pinpoint cross into the box.

The victory was a welcome birthday present for Ancelotti, who turned 66 on Tuesday.

The Italian coach, who took over the reins of the Brazilian national team recently, praised his team’s “commitment” and “attitude” despite a lackluster performance.

“It was a good match with a very good first half, although obviously we suffered a bit because Paraguay are very solid opponents and we slowed down a bit in the second,” Ancelotti said in a post-match interview.

The win was made possible by Uruguay’s 2-0 victory over Venezuela in Montevideo, which raised the stakes for both Brazil and Paraguay at Corinthians Arena.

Paraguay needed only a point to qualify, while Brazil knew that a win would guarantee their spot at the World Cup.

Vinicius’s goal, which came just before halftime, was the decisive moment in the match.

Brazil had struggled to create chances until that point, with Cunha squandering a golden opportunity in the 35th minute.

However, the Manchester United signing made up for it with a key role in the goal, capitalizing on good work from Raphinha to provide the cross that Vinicius finished.

The win lifted Brazil into third place in the South American standings with 25 points from 16 games, securing an automatic qualifying berth. Ancelotti, who has a “very long list” of 70 players in mind for next summer’s tournament, including injured star Neymar, expressed his satisfaction with the squad’s performance.

“I really liked those who were with me in this squad for their commitment, their attitude, and the atmosphere,” he said.

The defeat left Paraguay with 24 points, meaning they need just one point to secure their first World Cup appearance since 2010.

The Paraguayans will look to bounce back and claim their spot at the tournament in their upcoming matches.

With Brazil’s qualification secured, attention will now turn to the team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Ancelotti will have his work cut out for him as he looks to build a strong squad and make a deep run in the tournament.