13 participants are determined
© Imago
In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Brazil, Ecuador and Australia solved three other teams for the 2026 World Championship. The record winner Brazil won 1-0 against Paraguay in the second game under the new national coach Carlo Ancelotti. This is exactly one year before the tournament start in the Azteken Stadium in Mexico City 13 of the 48 participants.
After the success against Paraguay, the Seleção moved to 3rd place in the South American World Cup qualification table two games before the end. This means that Brazil can no longer be displaced by one of the first six places that entitle them to participate. The seventh -placed team has to go to the relegation. After the lean 0-0 against Ecuador in the last game, Ancelotti had announced more offensive urge for the upcoming games – and the Seleção delivered São Paulo in the Neo Química Arena in the Brazilian metropolis. From the beginning, Paraguay was put under great pressure.
Shortly before the break, Vinicius Junior Brazil gave the lead 1-0 after a cross from Matheus Cunha in the penalty area – it was the only goal of the evening and at the same time the first under the new national coach. “I am very happy about this result, it was necessary to win at home, also for our fans,” said the scorer after the final whistle. “Now the trainer has more time to work to see what we can improve.” With a squad value of 909 million euros, the Seleção is the world’s most fifth -valuable national team and is therefore part of the expanded favorite group despite the mixed qualification.
Ecuador and Australia also solve the ticket for the 2026 World Cup
In addition to Brazil and the previously qualified Argentine, Ecuador also solved the ticket for the 2026 World Cup after a 0-0 against Peru. The team around the Leverkusener Piero Hincapié is in second place thanks to the better goal difference before Brazil and is there for the fifth time in 2026 at a World Cup finals. Thanks to stars like Willian Pacho from PSG or Moisés Caicedo from Chelsea, the team is located with a squad value of EUR 328 million in the top 15.
Also included is Australia in 2026, which was able to prevail in the direct duel against Saudi Arabia. Due to the significantly better goal difference, the Socceroos should not have lost a difference against the team from the desert state with five goals. Thanks to the hits of St. Paulis Connor Metcalfe and Mitchell Duke, Australia won 2-1 and qualified for a world championship for the seventh time. With a squad value of 36.5 million euros, you are one of the outsiders.