Ancelotti’s Italy Finds Stability as Brazil Qualifies for 2026 World Cup
Ancelotti’s Italy finds stability as Brazil qualifies for the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paulo. It was a successful home debut for new manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose second match in charge showed more promise than his first. The only goal of the night came in the 43rd minute from Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., giving Brazil a much-needed boost in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Though Brazil controlled the ball for most of the game, they struggled to convert that dominance into goals, managing just four shots on target. Paraguay stayed competitive throughout and made sure the outcome was uncertain until the final whistle.
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Improvement from Ancelotti’s First Match
This performance marked a clear improvement from Ancelotti’s debut match, a dull 0-0 draw against Peru. That result raised early questions about whether the Italian tactician could quickly adapt to managing a national side. But against Paraguay, the team looked more organized and effective, especially in the first half. The players responded well to Ancelotti’s game plan, pressing high and keeping control, even though they couldn’t find a second goal to seal the win earlier.
Brazil Climbs the Standings
The win takes Brazil up to third place in the South American qualifying table. They are now level on points with Ecuador, who also secured their place at the World Cup despite a goalless draw in Peru. With CONMEBOL allowing the top six teams to qualify automatically for the 2026 tournament, Brazil’s position puts them in a strong spot with several games still to play. Ancelotti’s presence already seems to be paying off as the team builds momentum.
Argentina and Colombia Share the Spoils
In other qualifying action, top-placed Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia. Luis Diaz gave Colombia the lead in the 24th minute, but Argentina responded late with an 81st-minute goal from Thiago Almada to level things up. The result leaves Colombia in sixth place, still within the automatic qualification zone, while Argentina maintains their grip on the top of the standings.
