Brazil heads to Santiago for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Chile, while Ecuador will look to continue their excellent form in World Cup qualifying when they welcome Paraguay to Quito.
Chile, struggling in 9th place with just 5 points from 8 matches, desperately needs a win, but they face a Brazil team also feeling the heat. Sitting 5th, Brazil is under pressure to secure points and avoid slipping further in the standings. For both nations, it’s a do-or-die situation - Brazil aims to regain momentum, while Chile fights to keep their World Cup hopes alive after years of frustration.
Brazil and Uruguay are clear favorites, but surprises are common in South American football, where nothing is ever guaranteed.
But first, Ecuador find themselves ahead of teams like Brazil, currently occupying one of the six automatic qualifying spots, and they will do everything in their power to stay above Brazil in the standings. In their last two clashes, Ecuador and Paraguay have each claimed a victory, with no draws to settle the score.
This sets the stage for a thrilling showdown where both teams will be eager to break the deadlock and gain the upper hand!
Ecuador's World Cup qualifying campaign could have had a smoother start, as they were docked three points for falsifying a player’s birth documents. However, this hasn’t diminished the team's determination, especially on home soil. Despite the setback, Ecuador have secured 10 points from four home matches and are eager to continue their winning ways.
Ecuador’s form remains solid, boasting four wins, two draws, and two losses from their first eight qualifiers. In their most recent match, La Tri bounced back with a 1-0 win over Peru, thanks to an Enner Valencia strike in the 54th minute. Their defense has also been rock solid, keeping four clean sheets in their last eight matches.
With four wins, three losses, and three draws in their last 10 outings, a victory here would push Ecuador's form into impressive territory.
ECUADOR predicted lineup vs PARAGUAY: Galindez (GK); Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Preciado, Franco, Caicedo, Estupinan; Mercado, Valencia, Paez.
Paraguay are a tough team to figure out. Despite scoring in all three Copa America group games, they lost each one and were eliminated early. In CONMEBOL qualifying, they have the worst attack but also one of the best defenses. Unsurprisingly, their two victories—against Brazil and Bolivia—both came by narrow 1-0 margins.
After a sluggish start, picking up just a single point from their first three World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay have managed to turn things around. They’ve now only lost once in their last five games, with two wins and two draws boosting their points total to nine. They even went unbeaten during the September international break.
Sitting in seventh place, just outside the automatic qualification spots, a win in this match could launch Paraguay into the top five, making this fixture pivotal in their quest for the 2026 World Cup.
However, there's one glaring issue: Paraguay have failed to score in six of their last eight matches, which could be their undoing if they don’t find a solution quickly.
Paraguay's key players have struggled for consistent game time in the Premier League, with Julio Enciso and Miguel Almiron not being regular starters for Brighton and Newcastle. Alvaro Campuzano is out injured for this match.
PARAGUAY predicted lineup vs ECUADOR: Fernandez (GK); Caceres, Balbuena, Alderete, Alonso; Villasanti, Bobadilla; Gomez, Enciso, Almiron; Pitta.
Later, it's Chile vs. Brazil, where history heavily favors the visitors. In their last 19 meetings, Brazil has only lost once to Chile, and the hosts’ recent form suggests it will be tough to break that trend.
Chile crashed out of the Copa America without finding the back of the net, and their struggles continued with a 3-0 defeat to Argentina in their first qualifier under coach Ricardo Gareca. If Chile doesn’t turn things around fast, they’re staring down the barrel of missing out on the World Cup finals for the third time in a row. Brazil, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on Chile’s woes and keep pushing for a top spot in the table.
Chile are feeling the heat now, and the question is whether the pressure has reached the breaking point—where they realize it's slipping away once again, especially with a hungry Brazilian side coming to town.
In their last outing, Chile suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Bolivia, a game they were heavily favored to win. With just a single point from their last five World Cup qualifying matches, their road to redemption seems steep.
Veteran stalwarts like Mauricio Isla and Gabriel Arias have been left out in favor of fresh faces, while Ben Brereton Diaz's poor form has cost him a spot as well. The absence of Alexis Sanchez, still sidelined since his return to Udinese, only adds to the growing list of setbacks, with Matias Catalan and Vicente Pizarro also unavailable. Chile is running out of options and time as they prepare to face their toughest challenge yet.
CHILE predicted lineup vs BRAZIL: Cortes (GK); Hormazabal, Maripan, P Diaz, Galdames; Valdes, Osorio, Echeverria, Pulgar; Vargas, Davila.
Brazil had a shaky start to the World Cup qualifiers but have recently found their rhythm, picking up crucial points. They know full well that nothing short of three points will do here.
Despite their resurgence, Brazil have their own struggles, sitting with just 10 points from three wins, one draw, and four losses - far from their usual dominance. This will be a fierce battle, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for victory.
Brazil will have to cope without star goalkeeper Alisson, who’s out with a hamstring injury from Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. Vinicius Junior is also sidelined due to a neck injury, leaving Brazil's attacking trio fractured. However, Rodrygo and the young sensation Endrick will still lead the charge as they look to grab the much-needed victory.
BRAZIL predicted lineup vs CHILE: Ederson (GK); Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Alex Telles; Andre, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Endrick, Rodrygo.
