The Brazilian national team has always been a powerhouse in world football. With a rich history of five World Cup victories, the South American nation is seen as one of the greatest nations to ever play the sport.
However, their recent struggles in World Cup qualifiers have raised serious concerns. One of the country’s brightest young players, Manchester City’s midfielder Savinho, has openly shared his fears about Brazil’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The fear of potential humiliation looms large over the team as they battle to secure a place in the prestigious mundial come 2026.
Manchester City fans will hope that they carry the winning momentum from last week’s slender win vs Fulham through the international break. The season is getting hotter and more intense. They will need to get Manchester City tickets from an online resale store to be able to support their team even well.
Brazil’s World Cup struggles
Brazil’s current form is alarming. The team has lost four of its last six World Cup qualifiers, an unusual slump for a country that has long been dominant in South America. To put this into perspective, Brazil had only lost four games in their previous 63 qualifying matches before this disastrous run.
As a result, they currently sit in fourth place in the South American qualifying group. This is a dangerous position, as only the top six teams automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup and they are barely just two points from the seventh-placed team. If Brazil continues to struggle, they might have to fight for a spot in a playoff, something that could be deeply embarrassing for the team.
This slump is Brazil’s worst-ever qualifying campaign, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. The team is preparing for a crucial match against Peru, a game they cannot afford to lose. This match will be vital if Brazil hopes to climb the rankings and secure their place in the tournament.
The team managed to get a slim victory over Chile yesterday and they will need a lot of inspiration from that to get through Peru. As it stands, they are just two points from being knocked out of the 2026 World Cup.
Another part of Brazil’s potential problem will be the absence of some of its biggest stars. Neymar, the team’s talisman, is injured and hasn’t been available for some time. Additionally, other key players such as Vinicius Junior, Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson, and defenders Bremer and Eder Militao are also sidelined with injuries.
Without these world-class players, Brazil will likely struggle to find their usual rhythm and dominance on the field. Although these players have been there for years and have also struggled with the team, they are undeniably Brazil’s best players.
Brazil has already gone through two coaches since the 2022 World Cup. Dorival Junior, the current manager, is Brazil’s third head coach in just two years. He is under immense pressure to turn things around quickly, as the threat of not automatically qualifying for the World Cup is becoming very real.
Savinho has voiced his concerns about Brazil’s current predicament. In a press conference ahead of Brazil’s match against Chile, he openly admitted that the team is worried. “It is worrying because of the position we are in and what the fans expect from us,” Savinho said. “The time has come. It’s a very good moment for all the players to show what Brazil is, where we deserve to be.”
The team just has to step up
With Neymar and Vinicius out, Savinho knows that he and the other forwards need to step up and take responsibility. He mentioned that it is not just up to him, but also players like Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli, Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimares, and Endrick. “If each one takes a little responsibility and puts it on the field, we will stand out against our opponents,” Savino said.
The responsibility to deliver for Brazil from possible elimination does not just fall on the younger players. Savinho’s Manchester City teammate Ederson, one of Brazil’s experienced goalkeepers, also emphasized the need for leadership from the senior players. He believes that the team will need both the young and old eggs in the team to rise and drive the team to the World Cup finals in 2026.
Despite their poor form, Brazil’s fate is still in their own hands. The top six teams in the South American qualifying group automatically go through to the World Cup, and Brazil is currently in fourth place. While this is not the position they would have hoped for, it means they still control their destiny. Winning the matches in Peru could help boost them back up the rankings and ease some of the pressure on the team.
However, if they fail to secure the win against Peru, they could find themselves in an even more precarious situation. The seventh-placed team will have to go through a playoff to qualify, something Brazil has never had to do before. Such a scenario would be seen as very humiliating for a country with such a strong footballing tradition.
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Conclusion
Savinho’s admission of fear for Brazil’s World Cup future is just an insight to the anxiety surrounding the team. Their fans are very passionate about the game, so you can expect the mother of backlashes from the fans if they fail to qualify.
With their recent poor performances in qualifiers, Brazil faces the risk of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Injuries to key players like Neymar, Allison, and Eder Militao have made the situation even more difficult.
Regardless of everything, Brazil’s fate is still in their hands, and the team’s upcoming matches will be crucial in determining their path forward. Failure is surely not an option, and the fear of humiliation should even drive them to deliver the positive results the fans and the country expect.
