Brazil are in an unusual situation. They are struggling with mounting pressure and uncertainty as they prepare for two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru, with a number of key players injured.
After losing four of their last five qualifying matches with poor performances, the five-time World Cup champions could only finish fifth in the standings with 10 points - ahead of Venezuela on goal difference.
Only the top six teams are guaranteed a place in the 2026 USA-Mexico-Canada tournament.
Paraguay and Bolivia are one point behind and another slip-up will push them into more trouble with the risk of missing the World Cup for the first time in history.
Coach Dorival Jr. has only won two qualifying matches so far. He was appointed permanently in January after the Selecao went through two caretaker managers while the Brazilian Football Confederation tried (and failed) to lure Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.
After a dismal Copa America campaign – eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals – Brazil narrowly won at home to Ecuador last month. However, they came back down to earth a few days later with another poor performance, losing 1-0 to Paraguay, who had scored just one goal in their previous seven qualifiers.
Since letting coach Tite leave after losing to Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, instability has plagued Brazil, as they have won just four of their last 14 matches.
The difficulties piled up when the October training camp - with two matches against Chile in Santiago and Peru in Brasilia, the injury list was long across the front lines with goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Bremer, Eder Militao and Guilherme Arana, and striker Vinicius Jr.
Dorival made the surprise announcement on Wednesday that Botafogo striker Igor Jesus would start against Chile in his first international call-up, leaving Real Madrid teenager Endrick on the bench.
"What I see in Igor is very interesting, Endrick is still getting used to the new club, the biggest team in world football with a lot of competition," said Dorival.
Jesus, 23, is a standout talent for the team that leads the Brazilian league and is in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. He signed for Botafogo from UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli in July, scoring seven goals in 19 games.
Chile are currently in even more trouble, sitting in 9th place with just 5 points, 2 points ahead of last-placed Peru. Excluding friendly matches, Chile have failed to win in their last 8 matches (3 draws, 5 losses).
Brazil can be optimistic as they have won all four of their most recent matches without conceding a single goal (scoring nine goals). But with many key players absent and Chile determined, Selecao's task of winning three points is not simple.
At the top, Argentina - with the return of Lionel Messi, will face a tough away match against Venezuela. Colombia will have to play at an altitude of 3,600m in La Paz, Bolivia, while Uruguay will have a chance to put pressure on Peru.
Match schedule for the 9th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America
October 11
03h00: Bolivia - Colombia
04:00: Ecuador - Paraguay
04:00: Venezuela - Argentina
07:00: Chile - Brazil
October 12
08:30: Peru - Uruguay
