The Brazilian team is in an unusual situation. They are struggling with increasing pressure and instability as they prepare for two important 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru, with a series of key players injured.
After losing 4 of their last 5 matches in the qualifiers with poor performances, the 5-time World Cup champions can only finish 5th in the rankings with 10 points - ahead of Venezuela in terms of goal difference.
Only the top 6 teams are guaranteed a place in the US-Mexico-Canada in 2026.
Paraguay and Bolivia are 1 point behind and another slip will put them in more trouble with the risk of missing the World Cup for the first time in history.
Coach Dorival Jr has only won 2 qualifying matches so far. He was officially appointed in January after the Selecao underwent two interim coaching periods during the Brazilian Football Confederation's unsuccessful attempt to lure coach Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.
After a dismal Copa America campaign - eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals - Brazil won a narrow home win over Ecuador last month. However, they returned to earth a few days later with another poor showing, losing 0-1 to Paraguay, who had scored just one goal in their previous seven qualifiers.
Since taking over after losing to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, instability has plagued Brazil, who have won just four of their last 14 games.
Difficulties piled up in the October training session - with 2 matches against Chile in Santiago and Peru in Brasilia, the injury list was prolonged at the sides with goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Bremer, Eder Militao and Guilherme Arana, and striker Vinicius Jr.
On Wednesday, Dorival made a surprise announcement that Botafogo striker Igor Jesus will start in the match against Chile, right in his first call-up to the national team, leaving Real Madrid teenager Endrick on the bench.
"What I see in Igor is very interesting, Endrick is still getting used to his new club, the biggest in world football with a lot of competition," Dorival said.
Jesus, 23, is a prominent talent for the team that is leading the Brazilian national championship and entering the Copa Libertador semi-finals. He signed Botafogo from UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli in July, scoring 7 goals in 19 matches.
Currently, Chile is even more struggling, finishing 9th with only 5 points, 2 points more than the bottom team, Peru. Excluding friendlies, Chile have not won in their last 8 matches (3 draws, 5 losses).
Brazil can be optimistic as they have won all 4 of their most recent meetings without conceding a goal (scoring 9 goals). But when many key players are absent and Chile will be very determined, Selecao's task of winning 3 points is not simple.
In the top, Argentina - with the return of Lionel Messi, visiting Venezuela also promises to be uncomfortable. Colombia will have to visit La Paz, Bolivia at an altitude of 3,600m, while Uruguay has the opportunity to put pressure when playing only on Peru's field.
Schedule of the 9th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America
October 11
03:00: Bolivia - Colombia
04.00: Ecuador - Paraguay
04.00: Venezuela - Argentina
07:00: Chile - Brazil
October 12
08:30: Peru - Uruguay
