How can Brazil qualify for the 2026 World Cup? Fixtures, results and CONMEBOL table | OneFootball

Qatar 2022 wasn't much fun for Brazil.

Once again the favourites to go all the way, Tite's side once again underperformed in the knockouts as they were beaten by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals. Then, to top things off, bitter rivals Argentina went on to win the tournament following an enthralling final with France.

While Carlo Ancelotti is projected to lead the Selecao out in North America in 2026, Fernando Diniz will take charge of the national team at the start of their lengthy qualifying campaign.

Brazil have qualified for every World Cup finals since the competition's inception in 1930 and it's hard not to envisage that trend continuing this time around. Here's everything you need to know about Brazil's qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

2026 World Cup CONMEBOL qualifying format

CONMEBOL teams have been placed in one big group with ten nations playing each other twice in a round-robin format.

Games will take place during the international breaks between September 2023 and September 2025, with the top six teams in the table qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil are very much expected to claim one of these six spots. The team that finishes seventh will compete in an inter-confederation play-off containing nations from AFC, CAF, OFC and CONCACAF, with two sides qualifying for the tournament.

Brazil World Cup 2026 qualifying fixtures & results

Neymar broke Pele's scoring record for Brazil in the 5-1 win over Bolivia / Pedro Vilela/GettyImages

It's a prolonged qualifying campaign which spans two years. While CONMEBOL currently boasts the world's number one ranked nation in Argentina as well as several other physical and well-drilled sides, Brazil shouldn't have any issues finishing in the top six. They'll want to be competing with Argentina for top spot in the table.

The Selecao's campaign got off to a winning start as Neymar broke Pele's scoring record in their 5-1 triumph over Bolivia. Real Madrid's Rodrygo also notched a brace, with Raphinha rounding off the scorers.

Brazil's first major test of qualifying arrives against Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay in October 2023, but the fixtures everyone will be keeping an eye out for are the duels with Argentina. There are no exact dates for these titanic duels yet, but we know Brazil will host the first meeting in November 2023 and visit Argentina deep into their qualifying campaign in March 2025.

Both nations will want to have all but secured their place at the World Cup by the time that fixture rolls around.

CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying table

Ecuador were docked 3 points for falsifying birth documents in previous World Cup qualifying cycle.

Brazil World Cup 2026 qualifying top scorers

When is the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada and run from June until July of that year. It will return to its traditional northern summer schedule after the 2022 version was held in Qatar in the winter.