Brazil wrapped up its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-0 loss to Bolivia in El Alto. Miguelito’s penalty in first-half stoppage time secured a playoff spot for the home side and pushed Brazil into an uncomfortable fifth place. Already qualified, Brazil treated the match more like a test but ended up with the worst qualifying record in its history.
A team running out of breath
After the win over Chile, Carlo Ancelotti made several changes to the lineup. On the field, the lack of chemistry was clear, and the 13,400-foot altitude only added to the struggle. The ball moved too quickly for Brazil to control, and the few chances created by Richarlison and Luiz Henrique ended in poor finishing. What kept the game from slipping further away was Alisson. He pulled off several key saves and kept Brazil alive. On Miguelito’s penalty, he got the side right and even managed to touch the ball, but the shot had too much pace and still found the net.
In the second half, Ancelotti’s substitutions gave the team a bit more energy, but the scenario didn’t really change. Brazil tried to pick up the tempo yet always looked a step behind. On the other end, Lampe held firm in goal and refused to give Brazil any way back. That secured Bolivia’s celebration.
Bolivia celebrates, Brazil left concerned
When the final whistle blew, the contrast was striking. Bolivian fans erupted, and the players hugged each other in tears as the playoff spot became reality. Brazil, meanwhile, walked off knowing something has to change. This wasn’t just another meaningless game. Six defeats in 18 matches and a fifth-place finish don’t line up with a jersey once feared across South America and the world. Saying the team had already qualified doesn’t erase the disappointment. Brazil lost competitiveness, lost consistency, and ends this qualifying run with more doubts than answers.
For Bolivia, this win means a second chance, the right to keep dreaming about the World Cup and the satisfaction of seeing hard work pay off. For Brazil, it’s a reminder to look in the mirror and figure out how it let so much slip. There’s no need to panic, but ignoring the warning would be dangerous. With 2026 around the corner, this team needs far more than just the weight of its history.