Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
Venezuela, under Fernando Batista, have made significant progress and delivered solid performances at home. Despite recent setbacks, they remain unbeaten on home turf, and the match against Brazil becomes a crucial step towards their coveted World Cup qualification. Despite recent successes, the Brazilians face certain challenges. After three consecutive defeats in the qualifiers, they have improved their game and currently hold fourth place with 16 points. However, the upcoming match will be another test, as Brazil have struggled to show consistent results away from home.
Venezuela
Venezuela have been impressive at home, with two wins and three draws in their qualifying campaign, including a 1:1 against Argentina and 0:0 with Uruguay. Strong defensive play has been key to their success, conceding just one goal in five home matches. However, scoring has been limited, averaging 0.8 goals per game. The attack still heavily relies on the veteran Salomón Rondón, who has netted three goals in the qualifiers.
Brazil
Brazil have faced challenges on the road, winning only two of their last five away matches. Following a disappointing Copa America and defeats to Uruguay and Paraguay, they have put together three consecutive wins, though the performances haven’t always been convincing statistically. For example, in the match against Chile, they won 2:1 with just 0.46 xG. The current squad is weakened due to injuries to Rodrygo Goes and Alisson Becker, but still features star players like Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha Belloli. However, Brazil have scored more than one goal in only one of their last five away games.
Venezuela vs Brazil Prediction
A tense match is expected, with Venezuela likely to focus on defence and leveraging their home advantage. Brazil will need to demonstrate their attacking prowess to break down the resilient opposition. The match is likely to be low-scoring, as both teams tend to play cautiously.
