[En Vivo] Brazil vs. Bolivia for the first qualification date for the 2026 World Cup

Brazil and Bolivia meet this Friday, on the first day of World Cup qualification, in a match where both teams are looking to not only get off to a good start, but also break the records of their stars, Neymar and Marcelo Martins.

Canarinha begins its new post-World Cup phase in Qatar, meanwhile, under Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz, who will be in charge until the 2024 Copa América, when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) hopes to hand over the reins to Carlo Ancelotti.

A game that looks very favorable for the hosts in advance will have the added incentive of seeing if Neymar can become the five-time world champion’s top scorer in official matches.

Al Ahli’s new signing, who has yet to make his debut in the Saudi league, is level with Pelé on 77 goals and will become the top scorer in his team’s history with one more, according to FIFA calculations.

This possible record will have the applause of the football world, but it will certainly not be recognized by the CBF itself, because the Brazilian confederation counts Pelé with 95 goals.

The CBF list includes 18 goals scored by Pelé in friendlies against clubs and other teams, while FIFA only counts goals in official matches and friendlies against national teams.

Neymar, who has not appeared on the field since last August 3 when he played a friendly match with Paris Saint-Germain in South Korea, will monopolize all the attention of Canarinha due to the absence due to injury of Vinícius Júnior.

He is expected to be joined in attack by Rodrygo Goes, Richarlison and Raphinha to form a top-ranked forward line that Brazil aim to surround a Bolivian side that has never managed to win on Brazilian soil.

The greatest success of the Greens in visiting the five-time champions was a goalless draw in 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

The team led by Argentine Carlos Lampe knows that in order to repeat that milestone, they need to play a flawless game, and above all, maintain a solid defensive line.

In addition, Bolivia is also hoping for a record, as Marcelo Martins, the team’s captain and top scorer, if he takes the field, will reach 103 caps for the national team, surpassing Ronaldo Raldes.

Martins, more focused on the qualifiers than his personal bests, said in Belém that “for the game to be perfect”, Bolivia must make history and beat Brazil.

Nevertheless, coach Gustavo Costas plans to reserve some players, in order to arrive at full strength for the second term of the qualifiers, when Bolivia will host Argentina, the world champion, in La Paz.

Brazil vs. Bolivia – live story

South American qualifiers 2026