São Paulo’s Tapia called up by Chile to face Brazil 🇨🇱⚽ | OneFootball

Reinforcement who played only five matches for Tricolor was called up by his country (Photo: Publicity/SPFC)

MARCIO MONTEIRO

@avantmtricolor

With the FIFA Date at the beginning of next month knocking at the door, the Chilean Football Federation announced this Friday (22) its list of call-ups for the upcoming matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

And a player who has just arrived at São Paulo appears on the list. Winger Gonzalo Tapia was called up to represent Chile in the matches against Brazil and Uruguay, in the last rounds of the South American Qualifiers.

Chile, however, is the only country that no longer has a chance of going to next year's World Cup, and occupies the last position in the standings, with only 10 points. They fired their coach Ricardo Gareca and will be led by Nicolás Córdova, the current coach of Chile's U-20 team.

Thus, São Paulo player Tapia could even face Brazil, in the match that takes place on September 4, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã.

The 23-year-old forward arrived in this mid-year transfer window at Tricolor, played five matches and has already scored his goal, right in his second appearance for the team, coming off the bench to score against Fluminense in the Brasileirão.

Tapia had his first chance as a starter in the team's last game in the Brasileirão, against Sport, in Recife. However, he performed very poorly, unable to create plays, and was heavily criticized by the São Paulo fans after the match, in which Tricolor managed a 2-2 draw at the end.

Duel with Marcos Antonio?

If he plays for Chile against Brazil, Tapia could face a club teammate, Marcos Antonio. The midfielder is expected to be called up by Carlo Ancelotti for the Brazilian National Team, according to ESPN this Friday.

With Brazil already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Ancelotti will take advantage of the matches on this FIFA Date, against Chile and Bolivia in the Qualifiers, to observe names who have not been called up, among them, Marcos Antonio, representing Tricolor.

If the midfielder's call-up is confirmed, he will have to report with the other athletes on September 1, at Granja Comary. Thus, he will not miss any matches for São Paulo, which plays in the Brasileirão on August 30, against Cruzeiro.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.