Fatshimetrie causes a stir in South America’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier
Brazilian wonderkid Rodrygo scored the only goal as Brazil revived their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win over Ecuador. The result came as pressure mounted on the Seleção, who were a lowly sixth in the South American qualifying standings heading into the meeting in Curitiba.
The five-time world champions have bounced back to fourth with 10 points from seven games, but remain eight points behind leaders Argentina. With the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup, the top six teams from the South American qualifiers will be guaranteed a place in the tournament. The seventh-placed South American team will advance to an intercontinental play-off.
Brazil, who have struggled in recent international tournaments, found some of their lustre against Ecuador. Despite dominating for long periods, the Auriverde failed to create any real scoring chances, with just three shots on target.
The breakthrough came on the half-hour mark when Rodrygo unleashed a deflected shot from the edge of the box. The Real Madrid player’s effort appeared to hit Ecuador defender Willian Pacho before ending up in the net.
Elsewhere in Friday’s other South American qualifiers, Luis Suarez endured a frustrating exit from his international career as Uruguay were held 0-0 by Paraguay in Montevideo. Suarez, who announced his international retirement after a 17-year career with Uruguay, gave his final farewell to the fans in an emotional ceremony before the game.
Despite enjoying 65% possession, Uruguay were unable to get past Paraguay’s solid defence in a plodding match punctuated by 24 fouls. It was an equally difficult night for Colombia, who had to rely on a late Luis Diaz goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Peru in Lima.
In conclusion, these games have once again demonstrated the complexity of South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, with top teams like Brazil and Uruguay struggling to find their rhythm. The road to the FIFA competition promises to be a challenging one for South American nations, with tense matches and unpredictable results at every turn.