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Job done for Brazil. After a goalless draw in Ecuador, the Seleção bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay at the Neo Quimica Arena in São Paulo, securing their spot at the 2026 World Cup. The decisive goal came just before halftime courtesy of Vinicius Jr., who dedicated his strike to head coach Carlo Ancelotti on the day of his 66th birthday—a fitting gift for the Italian tactician.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti reflected on the performance: "It was a good game. We controlled the first half well, though the tempo dropped a bit in the second. Overall, a solid display. There’s work to be done, of course. We’ve got a year ahead to prepare properly. There are around 70 players under observation for the 2026 World Cup—we haven’t narrowed it down to a final squad of 25 or 26 yet. Zero goals conceded? Well, I am Italian after all…"
