In the opening round of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, Brazil will face Bolivia in their pursuit of a sixth World Cup title.
The match will take place in Belem on Friday night. Brazil is undoubtedly the favorite in this clash, considering Bolivia’s poor away record in international football, especially outside the altitude of La Paz.
With Fernando Diniz currently leading Brazil until Carlo Ancelotti takes over next summer, the objective is to secure a strong start to the qualification campaign for the 2026 finals.
After suffering a surprising defeat by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the previous World Cup, Brazil experienced yet another setback against European opponents on the world stage.
Croatia joined the likes of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands in eliminating Brazil as underdogs. As the World Cup returns to the United States, where Brazil triumphed in 1994, it is crucial for the five-time winners to effortlessly qualify and enter the finals with confidence.
Brazil remains the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup to date, and they aim to maintain that record by replicating their exceptional home form from the Qatar qualifiers.
Throughout the qualifying process since 2009, Brazil has only dropped two points at home, boasting an unbeaten record in home qualifiers.
The new format introduced in 1998 might be considered grueling, but Brazil’s home form speaks for itself – 27 wins, nine draws, and zero losses.
On the other hand, Bolivia’s away qualifying record is abysmal. Since their 7-1 victory over Venezuela in 1993, they have failed to secure a single away win in 64 qualifiers, losing 55 and drawing none.
In both the 2006 and 2018 campaigns, Bolivia lost all nine matches on the road.
Despite their overall poor away record, Bolivia managed to hold Brazil to a goalless draw during the 2010 qualifiers and even defeated them at home.
However, in their seven subsequent trips to Brazil since 1993, Bolivia suffered defeats with a combined scoreline of 33-1.
With seven spots available in CONMEBOL for the World Cup, Bolivia’s chances of qualifying for the tournament have increased compared to previous years.
Brazil Form (all comps): L W L L W L
Bolivia Form (all comps): L L W L D L
Team News:
The major news surrounding the Brazil squad is the inclusion of Neymar, despite his recent move to Al-Hilal.
The squad also boasts a significant Premier League contingent, including Alisson, Ederson, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and surprise selection Matheus Cunha.
Gabriel Jesus may be preferred over Richarlison, despite the latter’s impressive performances for the national team.
Vinicius Junior is absent from the squad due to injury, alongside Real Madrid teammate Eder Militao, while Lucas Paqueta has been dropped.
Antony, a winger from Manchester United, has been expelled from the squad by the Brazilian FA following allegations of domestic abuse.
Bolivia has some injury concerns heading into the match, with Jeyson Chura and Jesus Sagredo ruled out.
Danny Bejarano and Ramiro Vaca have been left out by manager Gustavo Costas, despite being part of the squad that faced Chile in June.
Marcelo Moreno, who famously scored against Brazil in La Paz during the 2010 qualifiers, will likely captain the Bolivian team.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Brazil:
- Alisson
- Vanderson
- Marquinhos
- Gabriel
- Caio Henrique
- Casemiro
- Bruno Guimaraes
- Joelinton
- Raphinha
- Gabriel Jesus
- Neymar
Bolivia:
- Lampe
- Jose Sagredo
- Quinteros
- Roca
- Diego Bejarano
- Cespedes
- Quiroga
- Fernandez
- Miguelito
- Algaranaz
- Moreno
Prediction: Brazil 5-0 Bolivia
Given Brazil’s impeccable record in home World Cup qualifiers, it’s highly unlikely that Bolivia, a team notorious for their poor away performances, will pose a threat.
With no away victories in 64 qualifiers, Bolivia is expected to suffer another heavy defeat at the hands of Brazil, who are one of the powerhouses in international football.