Brazil restart their search for an elusive sixth World Cup title by welcoming Bolivia to Belem in the opening round of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on Friday night.

The Selecao are huge favourites in a clash against a side with one of the worst away records in international football, away from the altitude of La Paz.

Match preview

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With Fernando Diniz taking charge of Brazil until Carlo Ancelotti's arrival next summer, he will hope to set the Italian up with a good start in qualifying for the 2026 finals.

After Brazil dominated but were ultimately schooled by Croatia in the quarter-finals in Qatar, Tite left his post as manager with the nation in shock at yet another surprise humbling from European opposition at a World Cup.

Croatia followed Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in knocking Brazil out when going into the tie as underdogs.

With the World Cup returning to the United States, the location of Brazil's triumph in 1994, it is imperative the five-time winners make little fuss of qualifying and enter the finals with confidence.

They remain the only nation who has qualified for every World Cup to date, and they will keep that record up if they can continue the home form they showed in reaching Qatar, winning all eight matches on home soil, ignoring the farcical tie against Argentina which was abandoned at 0-0 and never replayed.

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Since 2009, Brazil have only dropped two points at home in World Cup qualifying, and they still maintain their astonishing record of having never lost a home qualifier in history.

The new format which was brought in for the 1998 qualifying is seen as gruelling by many, but Brazil's form at home reads 27 wins, nine draws, zero losses since the change.

In contrast, Brazil are matched up with a nation that has forgotten the taste of winning an away qualifier.

Bolivia have not won away from home in a WCQ since thrashing Venezuela 7-1 all the way back in 1993.

Since then, they have played 64 away qualifiers, winning none and losing 55, including two campaigns where they lost all nine matches on the road - 2006 and 2018.

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With a record that is on par with some of UEFA's and OFC's most renowned minnows, Bolivia will come into this game with virtually no hope at all.

However, against all odds they did hold Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the 2010 qualifiers, the same campaign where they famously beat the Selecao at home.

However, in their other seven trips since 1993, Bolivia have lost all seven by a combined score of 33-1.

With seven spots now open in CONMEBOL, Bolivia's chances of reaching a first World Cup since 1994 has been greatly enhanced though.

That was the only time where they have qualified on merit, as they were invitees in 1930 and 1950, and another qualification would give them a chance to improve a finals record which currently reads zero wins, one point and one goal across three World Cups.

Team News

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The big news in the Brazil squad is that Neymar is involved despite his move to Al-Hilal last month.

Neymar is joined by a large Premier League contingent which makes up nearly half of the squad, including goalkeeping pair Alisson and Ederson, Newcastle United teammates Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, and surprise inclusion Matheus Cunha.

Diniz may decide to go with Gabriel Jesus over Richarlison here, despite the latter's recent form with the national side.

Vinicius Junior is a notable injury absentee in the squad alongside Real Madrid teammate Eder Militao, while West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta has been dropped.

Manchester United winger Antony has also been expelled from the squad by the Brazilian FA after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced earlier this week.

Bolivia are suffering with a few injury concerns heading to Brazil, with Jeyson Chura and Jesus Sagredo both out.

Danny Bejarano and Ramiro Vaca have both been left out by manager Gustavo Costas despite being in the squad which faced Chile in June.

Marcelo Moreno is still going strong at 36 and should captain his country against the nation he scored his most famous goal against, when Bolivia beat Brazil in La Paz in 2010 qualifying.

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Vanderson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Caio Henrique; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar

Bolivia possible starting lineup:
Lampe; Jose Sagredo, Quinteros, Roca; Diego Bejarano, Cespedes, Quiroga, Fernandez, Miguelito; Algaranaz, Moreno

We say: Brazil 5-0 Bolivia

Brazil's incredible record of having never lost a home World Cup qualifier should come under no threat from a Bolivia side which is notoriously woeful away from La Paz.

With no wins in 64 away qualifiers, Bolivia are extremely unlikely to halt that dreadful record against one of the powerhouses of international football, and another hefty defeat at the hands of Brazil is on the cards.


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Written by
Andrew Delaney

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