FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFIER
Venezuela stun Brazil with late equaliser
Brazil paid the price for a lack of precision as a late goal from Eduard Bello silenced the crowd in Cuiabá and dealt the Seleçao with their first setback in the South American qualifiers.
Expectations levels were skyhigh in Cuiabá as Brazil faced Venezuela in matchday three of the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifiers. With a strike force boasting Vinicius, Neymar and Rodrygo, the feeling was positive against the ‘Vinotinto’.
The visitors survived a series of decent half decent chances for Brazil with Casemiro going close with a shot from outside the area. The game was erratic and lacked much progression as countless interruptions becoming an ally for the visitors as Brazil grew frustrated and their best efforts to employ a quick passing game thwarted by the poor state of the pitch.
In the 50th minutes, the Seleçao did finally create the breakthrough as Neymar delivered the assist in enabling Gabriel Magalhaes to head home. Brazil stepped up looking to increase their advantage but were wasteful in front of the target despite some solid link up play from Neymar and Vinicius.
Venezuela were limited to rare counters and just when it seemed that the contest was set to meander out with a slender home win, Mazatlan striker Eduard Bello scored an exquisite acrobatic ‘chilena’ to silence the silence the stadium.
Brazil threw everything at the side in white but there was limited time to secure a winner and Fernando Diniz’s team had to settle for a point with the game the first set-back for the canarinha in the race for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
- Ederson Moraes
- Guilherme Arana
- Danilo (41')
- Gabriel
- Marquinhos
- Bruno Guimarães (78')
- Casemiro (78')
- Neymar
- Vinicius Junior (78')
- Rodrygo
- Richarlison (58')
- Substitutes
- André (78')
- Bremer
- Alisson
- Yan Couto (41')
- Carlos Augusto
- Lucas Perri
- Raphael Veiga
- Nino
- Gabriel Jesus (58')
- Matheus Cunha (78')
- Gerson (78')
- David Neres
- Rafa Romo
- Christian Makoun
- Wilker Angel
- Yordan Osorio
- Alexander González
- Samuel Sosa (79')
- Yangel Herrera (45')
- Rincón (66')
- Machís (57')
- Rondón
- Sergio Córdova (45')
- Substitutes
- Yeferson Soteldo (57')
- Nahuel Ferraresi
- Joel Graterol
- Cristian Cásseres Jr (45')
- Eric Ramírez
- Josef Martínez
- Rosales
- Miguel Navarro
- Eduard Bello (79')
- Baroja
- Jefferson Savarino (45')
- Junior Moreno (66')
Substitutions
Yan Couto (41', Danilo), Cristian Cásseres (45', Yangel Herrera), Jefferson Savarino (45', Sergio Córdova), Yeferson Soteldo (57', Darwin Machís), Gabriel Jesus (58', Richarlison), Junior Moreno (66', Tomás Rincón), Gerson (78', Bruno Guimarães), Matheus Cunha (78', Vinícius Júnior), André (78', Casemiro), Eduard Bello (79', Samuel Sosa)
Goals
1-0, 49': Gabriel, 1-1, 84': Eduard Bello
Cards
Referee: Kevin Paolo Ortega
VAR Referee: Carlos Orbe Ruíz, Christian Lescano
Yangel Herrera (30',Yellow) Rincón (32',Yellow) Richarlison (55',Yellow) André (82',Yellow)
