Brazilian football star Savinho has openly expressed concerns as the national team faces a critical point in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Brazil, a team synonymous with football excellence, is enduring its worst-ever run of World Cup qualifying form, raising fears that the five-time world champions could miss out on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Seleção have lost four of their last five qualifiers — a stunning reversal for a team that had previously lost just four times in 63 qualifying matches. Brazil currently sits fifth in the South American qualifying group with only 10 points from eight games, putting them in a precarious position as they prepare for must-win matches against Chile and Peru.
Brazil has struggled with key absences, most notably Neymar, who is sidelined due to injury, along with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Defenders Bremer and Eder Militao are also unavailable, leaving the squad depleted ahead of their critical fixtures. These challenges come as Dorival Junior, Brazil’s third head coach since the 2022 World Cup, tries to steady the ship after the departures of Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz.
“It’s worrying because of the position we are in and what the fans expect from us,” admitted Savinho, the Manchester City winger, ahead of Brazil’s qualifier against Chile in Santiago. “The time has come. It’s a very good moment for all the players to really show what Brazil is and where we deserve to be. We’re going to work as long as we have to, get the three points, and climb the rankings.”
Brazil’s recent struggles include 1-0 defeats to Ecuador and Paraguay last month. They currently trail group leaders Colombia by six points, but despite their poor form, they still control their own destiny. The top six teams in the group will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the seventh-place team will enter a playoff.
With Neymar and Vinicius Junior out, the pressure has fallen on Brazil’s other forwards to step up. Savinho remains confident that the squad can rise to the challenge, saying, “Of course, I will take some of the responsibility to help the national team, but not just me. There’s Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli, Lucas Paquetá, Bruno Guimarães, Endrick… If each one takes a little responsibility and puts it on the field, we will stand out against our opponents.”
Savinho’s Manchester City teammate, Ederson, also stressed the importance of the squad’s experienced players taking the lead. “We have to show more and dig deep to get back to the top of the table, where we should be,” Ederson said. “With victories comes confidence, and the most important thing now is to win.”
As one of the senior figures in the squad, along with Danilo, Weverton, and Marquinhos, Ederson emphasized the role of leadership, adding that older players are working closely with younger ones to ensure the team is as strong as possible. “We pass on what we have experienced in the national team and that helps the younger ones to adapt and improve.”
With upcoming matches against Chile and Peru, Brazil will need to rediscover their winning formula quickly if they hope to avoid the unthinkable — missing out on the World Cup for the first time in their history.
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