Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup qualifier match.
In the last five rounds of the South American World Cup 2026 qualifiers, only Chile and Brazil have suffered four defeats each—marking the worst record for this period. It's clear that in Santiago, the Brazilian players will be determined to close the gap in the standings—falling further is simply not an option.
Chile
Football fans are well aware that the peak of the Chile national team is a thing of the past: following the era of Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sánchez, and Claudio Bravo, the country has seen no emergence of top-tier players. At the Copa América, the Chilean side failed to score in all three of their matches, and in September, they were defeated by Argentina (0:3) and Bolivia (1:2). Against the reigning world champions, the team failed to make an impact offensively (1-8 shots on target).
Brazil
Brazil's unexpected slump in results can be attributed to the football federation's indecision regarding their managerial choice. They seem to be holding out for a top-tier coach ahead of the World Cup 2026, as the coaching staff under Dorival Júnior struggles to find consistency. Last month, Brazil managed a win over Ecuador (1:0) but then delivered an average performance against Paraguay (0:1). On their visit to Chile, the team will likely focus on maintaining possession.
Chile vs Brazil Prediction
For the upcoming match, Brazil will be without Gleison Bremer and Vinicius Junior, although their roster remains filled with stars eager to prove themselves, including Endrick Felipe, Raphinha Dias, and Lucas Paquetá. The struggling Chilean side will likely find it difficult to withstand the pressure from the favourites.
