Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the World Cup 2026 qualifying match.
The Brazilian national team are eager to close the gap with the leaders and climb higher than their current fourth place. They will play in their usual attacking style in front of their home fans. However, Uruguay, sitting in second place, are solid in defence and will aim to take points from the star-studded Brazilians.
Brazil
In this qualifying cycle, Brazil have been inconsistent. Over 11 rounds, they have secured only 5 wins, drawn twice, and suffered 4 defeats. Despite having one of the most prolific attacks in the qualifiers, their defence remains problematic; they have conceded more goals than any other team in the top six. A draw with Venezuela (1:1) demonstrated that Brazil do not always handle pressure well, especially against well-organised opponents. Additionally, Vinicius Junior is not in top form, having not scored a single goal in the qualifiers. In the previous match against Venezuela, he even missed a penalty.
Uruguay
Uruguay showcase high levels of organisation and defensive reliability, conceding just 8 goals in 11 matches. The attacking leader for the Uruguayans is Darwin Núñez, who has already scored five times and provided two assists. The previous qualifying encounter between the teams ended with a victory for the Celeste (2:0), during which they allowed Brazil only two shots towards the goal.
Brazil vs Uruguay Prediction
Uruguay are stable in defence and efficient in seizing attacking opportunities. Given Brazil's current form and Vinicius's lacklustre performance, the visitors have a great chance to avoid defeat in this match.
