These are strange times for the Brazilian national team. Brazil are the only country to have competed in every edition of the World Cup and they have won it a staggering five times, more than any other nation. And yet their last triumph was all the way back in 2002 with a team containing such icons as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and the peerless Ronaldo. In 2026, when the World Cup is hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, much is expected from Brazil as they look to avoid more than a quarter of a century without success in the competition.
Fans of Uruguay would no doubt consider a couple of decades without winning the World Cup a mere drop in the ocean. They won the very first edition of the tournament in 1930 followed by a second triumph in 1950. It has been slim pickings since then, however. Uruguay have four quarter-final appearances, including fourth-place finishes in 1970 and 2010, in the last six decades.
The Brazilians go into this one off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Venezuela while Uruguay beat Colombia 3-2 at the death last time out. As things stand, the hosts are fourth in the table but their opponents are up in second, just three points behind top-of-the-table Argentina. This feels like a game Brazil need to win because they have lost their last two matches against Uruguay and a victory would set them up nicely in the group. The Uruguayans, for their part, have drawn four of their last six games.
Brazil will have to do without the services of Monaco defender Vanderson due to a suspension as well as Guilherme Arana, ruled out as a result of an ankle issue. Injury also means Brazil will have to make do without Alisson, Eder Militao and Rodrygo. Meanwhile, the visitors, overseen by managerial icon Marcelo Bielsa, are pretty much at full strength. Manchester United’s recent signing Manuel Ugarte scored that last-gasp winner on the weekend and could well start on this occasion.
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Brazil vs Uruguay odds
Odds from Betfair and updated as of 7 p.m. GMT Tuesday.
- Brazil win: 4/7 (-175)
- Draw: 5/2 (+250)
- Uruguay win: 11/2 (+550)
Venue: Arena Fonte Nova — Salvador, Brazil
Time: 12:45 a.m. GMT Thursday (7:45 p.m. ET Wednesday)
Form guide
World Cup qualifiers only
Brazil: 5-2-4, 17 points (4th), D-W-W-L-W
Uruguay: 5-4-2, 19 points (2nd), W-D-L-D-D
Match prediction
Brazil 1-1 Uruguay
Brazil need a win here and their supporters should help make it a raucous atmosphere. It’s been an underwhelming campaign thus far but that feels like a familiar refrain for the Brazilians in recent years. Uruguay seem to have become draw specialists of late and one senses they’d settle for another one here.
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(Photo of Raphinha and Vinicius: Federico Parra / AFP via Getty Images)
