Brazil vs Peru

The stakes are high for Brazil and Peru as they lock horns in a must-win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha.

Brazil bagged an 89th-minute winner in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Chile at the weekend to hand their under-pressure manager Dorival Junior a much-needed sigh of relief. It was only their third victory in the last eight internationals (D3, L2), a run that features three defeats in their five most recent World Cup qualifiers. As a result of their recent slumps, the Selecao enter this round only three points clear of 8th-placed Paraguay, highlighting the significance of getting into the win column against Peru. That’s a familiar feeling for the Brazilians, who have won the last five H2Hs by an aggregate score of 12-2, including a narrow 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture a year ago. It’s also worth noting that Brazil kept four clean sheets across those five triumphs.

Nailed to second bottom of the CONMEBOL standings with just one win to their name (D3, L5), visiting Peru will hope to turn the tables on their more esteemed hosts and finally catch a break. Encouragingly for La Bicolor, their only win in the ongoing qualifying cycle came last weekend as they stunned Uruguay 1-0 at home. A lack of first-half action has been a running theme in Peru’s recent matches, with the last seven goals they’ve scored/conceded coming in the second half. Manager Jorge Fossati will rely on that stubbornness in Brasília, with his side bidding to defy an underwhelming run of just one win from their last seven international travels (D1, L5). Ominously, five of their six most recent road trips have seen Peru fail to get on the scoresheet.