PREVIEW

Five-time world champions Brazil will face Ecuador in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Couto Pereira Stadium in the Brazilian state of Paraná on Saturday.

FOLLOW THE MATCH LIVE | Live scores Brazil vs Ecuador, FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Brazil goes into the game with the aim of making up for their quarter-final elimination from the 2024 Copa America against Uruguay on penalties.

Head coach Dorival Junior, who took over as Brazil coach at the beginning of the year, left out eight players who were part of Brazil’s squad for the Copa America tournament this summer.

Seventeen-year-old striker Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea from Palmeiras next year, has been called up to the Brazil national team for the first time, while experienced striker Neymar remains sidelined as he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury sustained last year.

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Brazil desperately needs a change and is currently sixth in the qualifying table with just two wins, three losses and one draw.

Ecuador, on the other hand, is in fifth place (three wins, one loss and two draws), despite having three points deducted for using a document containing false information about Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualifying cycle.

DIRECT COMPARISON

Played: 35

Brazil: 27

Ecuador: 2

Draw: 6

PREDICTED LINEUPS

Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Militao, Gabriel, Arana, Andre, Guimaraes, Paqueta, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Endrick

Ecuador: Galindez, Preciado, Hincapie, Pacho, Estupinan, Caicedo, Franco, Gruezo, Paez, Sarmiento, Valencia

LIVESTREAM AND BROADCAST INFORMATION

(With inputs from AP)