How can Brazil qualify for the 2026 World Cup? Fixtures, results and CONMEBOL table
- Brazil endured miserable 2022 World Cup as Argentina won tournament
- Selecao currently led by Dorival Junior
- Expected to be one of six CONMEBOL teams to qualify automatically for 2026 World Cup
Qatar 2022 wasn't much fun for Brazil.
Once again the favourites to go all the way, Tite's side once again underperformed in the knockouts as they were beaten by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals. Then, to top things off, bitter rivals Argentina went on to win the tournament following an enthralling final with France.
There was an expectation that it'd be Carlo Ancelotti leading the Selecao throughout the next World Cup cycle, but it's the far lesser-known Dorival Junior who's been tasked with leading Brazil into battle following the exit of relationist fiend Fernando Diniz. “We will be in the 2026 World Cup final. I have no doubts that we will be finalists,” the new Selecao boss humorously stated before a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay.
Brazil have qualified for every World Cup finals since the competition's inception in 1930 and it's hard not to envisage that trend continuing this time around. Here's everything you need to know about Brazil's qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil 2026 World Cup qualifying
2026 World Cup CONMEBOL qualifying format
CONMEBOL teams have been placed in one big group with ten nations playing each other twice in a round-robin format.
Games will take place during the international breaks between September 2023 and September 2025, with the top six teams in the table qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil are very much expected to claim one of these six spots. The team that finishes seventh will compete in an inter-confederation play-off containing nations from AFC, CAF, OFC and CONCACAF, with two sides qualifying for the tournament.
Brazil World Cup 2026 qualifying fixtures & results
It's a prolonged qualifying campaign which spans two years. While CONMEBOL currently boasts the world's number one ranked nation in Argentina as well as several other physical and well-drilled sides, Brazil shouldn't have any issues finishing in the top six, but they've struggled somewhat through qualifying this far.
Dorival has been in charge since the start of 2024, with Diniz overseeing consecutive victories over Bolivia and Peru last September. However, after a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, Brazil failed against the major nations. The Selecao have so far been beaten by Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina in qualifying.
A slender victory over Ecuador handed Brazil some breathing room in the top six, but the table was condensed after Dorival's side were beaten 1-0 in Paraguay to conclude their September outings. That ramped up the pressure heading into their tame October duels, but they responded with victories over Chile and Peru - the bottom two in the table - to leave them in a comfortable qualifying position.
Brazil once again struggled away from home in November as they drew 1-1 with Venezuela which leaves them fourth in the qualifying table ahead of their final outing of 2024 against Uruguay, who climbed up to second after edging a thrilling contest with Colombia 3-2.
Date | Fixture/Result |
|---|---|
08/09/23 | Brazil 5-1 Bolivia |
12/09/23 | Peru 0-1 Brazil |
12/10/23 | Brazil 1-1 Venezuela |
17/10/23 | Uruguay 2-0 Brazil |
17/11/23 | Colombia 2-1 Brazil |
22/11/23 | Brazil 0-1 Argentina |
07/09/24 | Brazil 1-0 Ecuador |
11/09/24 | Paraguay 1-0 Brazil |
11/10/24 | Chile 1-2 Brazil |
16/10/24 | Brazil 4-0 Peru |
14/11/24 | Venezuela 1-1 Brazil |
19/11/24 | Brazil vs Uruguay |
20/03/25 | Brazil vs Colombia |
25/03/25 | Argentina vs Brazil |
04/06/25 | Ecuador vs Brazil |
09/06/25 | Brazil vs Paraguay |
09/09/25 | Brazil vs Chile |
14/09/25 | Bolivia vs Brazil |
CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying table
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | +/- | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Argentina | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | +13 | 20:7 | 22 |
2. | Uruguay | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | +8 | 16:8 | 19 |
3. | Colombia | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | +6 | 15:9 | 19 |
4. | Brazil | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | +6 | 16:10 | 17 |
5. | Ecuador* | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | +6 | 10:4 | 16 |
6. | Paraguay | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6:5 | 16 |
7. | Venezuela | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | -2 | 9:11 | 12 |
8. | Bolivia | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | -14 | 11:25 | 12 |
9. | Peru | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -11 | 3:14 | 7 |
10. | Chile | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -13 | 5:18 | 6 |
*Ecuador were docked 3 points for falsifying birth documents in previous World Cup qualifying cycle.
Brazil World Cup 2026 qualifying top scorers
Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
1. | Raphinha | 4 |
2. | Rodrygo | 3 |
3= | Neymar | 2 |
3= | Luiz Henrique | 2 |
5= | Marquinhos | 1 |
5= | Gabriel | 1 |
5= | Gabriel Martinelli | 1 |
5= | Igor Jesus | 1 |
5= | Andreas Pereira | 1 |
When is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada and run from June until July of that year. It will return to its traditional northern summer schedule after the 2022 version was held in Qatar in the winter.
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