- Hasn't played since 2023.
- Brazil is in fifth place.
Brazil’s head coach, Dorival Júnior, has announced the squad for Matchdays 13 and 14 of the South American Qualifiers, featuring a long-anticipated name: Neymar Jr.
The Santos forward has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus tear in his left knee. Due to this injury, he missed the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™.
Currently, Brazil sits in fifth place in the standings. They will face Colombia on March 20 at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília and Argentina on March 25 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Who Qualifies for the World Cup?
Argentina leads the Qualifiers with 25 points, followed by Uruguay (20), Ecuador (19), Colombia (19), Brazil (18), and Paraguay (17) — these top six teams are currently securing direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Bolivia, in seventh place with 13 points, would play in the intercontinental playoff. Venezuela (12), Chile (9), and Peru (7) round out the standings.
Matchday 13
- March 20: Paraguay vs. Chile – Estadio Defensores del Chaco (Asunción, Paraguay)
- March 20: Brazil vs. Colombia – Estadio Mané Garrincha (Brasília, Brazil)
- March 20: Peru vs. Bolivia – Estadio Nacional (Lima, Peru)
- March 21: Ecuador vs. Venezuela – Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado (Quito, Ecuador)
- March 21: Uruguay vs. Argentina – Estadio Centenario (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Matchday 14
- March 25: Bolivia vs. Uruguay – Estadio Municipal de El Alto (El Alto, Bolivia)
- March 25: Colombia vs. Paraguay – Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez (Barranquilla, Colombia)
- March 25: Venezuela vs. Peru – Estadio Monumental de Maturín (Maturín, Venezuela)
- March 25: Argentina vs. Brazil – Estadio Más Monumental (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
- March 25: Chile vs. Ecuador – Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos (Santiago, Chile)
