Brazil 1-0 Paraguay: Vinicius scores, Selecao qualify for World Cup 2026

Brazil gets its first win under Carlo Ancelotti and qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.

Match Report

Brazil secured their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and their first win under new boss Carlo Ancelotti - by beating Paraguay 1-0 in Sao Paulo, with the result marking a sixth successive home H2H victory.

After a lifeless draw against Ecuador in his first match in charge, Ancelotti was looking for a response from a group of players that were beaten 1-0 in the reverse fixture. The Italian made three changes to his starting XI, including a recall for Raphinha, but the Selecao still lacked fluency in attacking areas.

Their only real opening of the first half-hour came when Vinicius Junior was unable to turn Matheus Cunha’s square ball home, and a scare was in store at the other end when a Juan Cáceres scissor kick deflected wide of Alisson’s goal.

Conceding almost three quarters of the possession, Paraguay began to tire as HT approached, and ought to have fallen behind when Gabriel Martinelli picked out Cunha at the back post, yet Manchester United’s latest signing opted against heading at a gaping goal, but failed in his efforts to find teammates in a more central area with a cushioned header.

Cunha atoned for that mishap, pouncing on a loose ball after Raphinha had occupied three defenders and squaring for Vinícius to slam home the opener on the stroke of the interval.

Relentless Brazil pressure continued following the restart, but clear-cut chances continued to come at a premium. Gatito Fernández’s most strenuous work came when he batted Bruno Guimaraes’ lobbed effort away from danger, and that allowed Paraguay to grow in confidence as the game entered the closing stages.

Gustavo Alfaro’s men enjoyed more possession in the opposition half and threatened an equaliser in bizarre fashion after Brazil failed to clear a long throw, with Júnior Alonso on hand to head just over the crossbar.

The hosts were soon back in control, denied a second goal only by a pair of strong Fernandez saves to deny Raphinha and Guimaraes. In the end, one strike would suffice for Brazil, who booked their place at next summer’s finals thanks to just a second win in six World Cup qualifiers.

It’s a first defeat in 10 in this sphere for Paraguay, though they need just one more point from their two remaining matches to reach their first World Cup since 2010.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Matheus Cunha (Brazil)

Match Events

0' Vinicius scores the first goal in the ancelotti era!! Brazil 1-0 Paraguay

0' The match is about to start!

7' Key free-kick for Brazil

8' Raphinha's long shot too staight

25' Enciso seems to be injured

28' Yellow Card! Vinicius booked

29' Caceres' shot wide out

37' Cunha misses a golden chance

39' Match Event for Brazil vs Paraguay

59' Paraguay's GK makes a decent save in the key area of the box

76' Highlight from Brazil vs Paraguay

77' Match Event for Brazil vs Paraguay

89' Highlight from Brazil vs Paraguay

Line-ups

Brazil XI: Sandro, Alisson, Casemiro, Marquinhos, Guimaraes, Raphinha, Vinicius, Matheus Cunha, Martinelli, Alexsandro, Vanderson

Subs: Danilo, Gerson, Richarlison, Léo Ortiz, Hugo Souza, Éderson, Antony, Bento, Beraldo, Wesley Vinícius França Lima, Andrey Santos, Estêvão

Paraguay XI: Roberto Fernández, G.Gómez, J.Alonso, Almiron, Sanabria, Omar Alderete, Andrés Cubas, Mathías Villasanti, Julio Enciso, Juan José Cáceres, Diego Gómez

Subs: Ángel Romero, Balbuena, Gustavo Velázquez, Gabriel Ávalos, Carlos Coronel, Kaku, Orlando Gill, Isidro Pitta, Damián Bobadilla, Ramón Sosa, Agustín Sández, Rubén Lezcano