Dorival Junior’s squad will be without some of its best players when Brazil faces Chile in what is a must-win match for the Selecao.
| Position | Brazil Lineup | Club | Chile Lineup | Club |
|---|
| Goalkeeper | Alisson Becker | Liverpool | Claudio Bravo | Real Betis |
| Right Back | Danilo | Juventus | Mauricio Isla | Universidad Católica |
| Center Back | Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain | Gary Medel | Vasco da Gama |
| Center Back | Thiago Silva | Chelsea | Guillermo Maripán | AS Monaco |
| Left Back | Alex Sandro | Juventus | Eugenio Mena | Racing Club |
| Defensive Midfield | Casemiro | Manchester United | Erick Pulgar | Flamengo |
| Central Midfield | Lucas Paquetá | West Ham United | Arturo Vidal | Athletico Paranaense |
| Central Midfield | Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle United | Charles Aránguiz | Internacional |
| Right Winger | Raphinha | Barcelona | Alexis Sánchez | Inter Milan |
| Striker | Richarlison | Tottenham Hotspur | Ben Brereton Díaz | Villarreal |
| Left Winger | Neymar Jr. | Al-Hilal | Jean Meneses | Toluca |
Brazil’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup is certainly not guaranteed. Five-time World Cup champions Brazil are currently in fifth place out of eight CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers so far. Brazil have picked up just 10 of 24 points, losing to Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay.
The Selecao needs to take home three points against Chile, but the team will have to do so without Vinícius Júnior, Éder Militão, Alisson, Bremer and Guilherme Arana. All five players are nursing injuries and are unavailable to compete during the October international break. Dorival Junior now has the tough job of replacing his superstars.
Here’s what Brazil’s XI could look like against Chile on Oct. 10.
Brazil Predicted Lineup vs. Chile (4-3-3)
GK: Ederson—The goalkeeper will make his first start for Brazil since Oct. 2023 as Alisson recovers from a hamstring injury.
RB: Danilo—Brazil’s captain played every minute of the Selecao’s last six competitive matches and has become one of Dorival Junior’s most trusted players.
CB: Marquinhos—The Paris Saint-Germain man will earn his 92nd cap for Brazil come Thursday’s match.
CB: Gabriel—After making just one appearance for Brazil at Copa América 2024, Gabriel will get the opportunity to play alongside Marquinhos in the aftermath of Militão’s thigh injury. The center-back will be Brazil’s main target on set pieces.
LB: Abner—Without Arana available, Abner could be in for his first senior cap for Brazil.
CM: André—The Wolves midfielder might have missed out on Copa América 2024, but he started against Ecuador and Paraguay in Brazil’s two most recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
CM: Bruno Guimarães—The midfielder’s accurate passing and defensive efforts give his side the advantage over Chile. He could find himself on the bench, though, should Dorival Junior look to field a more attack-minded lineup.
CM: Lucas Paquetá—Paquetá must use his creativity to get Brazil onto the scoresheet, something the Selecao could not manage against Paraguay in September.
RW: Raphinha—Raphinha’s current form makes him arguably Brazil’s most in-form player globally right now. Twenty-seven-year-old phenom heads into this showdown boasting six goals in eleven appearances for Catalan powerhouse Barcelona. Raphinha will probably begin on the flank but Dorival Junior may also shove him deeper into midfield for added liberty especially with Savinho possibly starting upfront.
ST: Igor Jesus—The striker job is up for grabs and Igor Jesus seems poised to slot into the role over Real Madrid’s Endrick.
LW: Rodrygo—Without Vinícius Júnior in the squad, Rodrygo gets to start in his preferred position. The Brazilian previously played on the right-wing and as a No. 9 during the September international break.
Brazil’s Current Challenges and Injuries
Raphinha is quite possibly the hottest in-form player for Brazil worldwide right now. The Catalan wonder kid is twenty seven, notching six in eleven appearances for Barcelona. Raphinha is likely to be played out on the wing, but Dorival Junior may also push him deeper into midfield for even more freedom especially since Savinho might start up front.
Tactical Adjustments Brazil Could Consider:
Given the injuries and recent struggles, Brazil might consider a few tactical adjustments:
- Formation Flexibility:Finally, as was tried by Dorival Junior, Paquetá could end up playing in a 4-2-3-1 with another central midfield partner to act as a double pivot André and Casemiro (who was very successful at the double pivot under FIFA).
- Utilizing Rodrygo’s Versatility: Rodrygo, whose versatility allows him to play on either flank or even as a false nine should Brazil run into trouble in attack early, could make his debut.
- Bringing Savinho into the Mix: If Dorival opts for additional pace, Savinho could be deployed on the right wing, moving Raphinha centrally or into a more creative midfield role.
Chile’s Tactical Setup and Potential Threats
Conclusion Chile — As impressive as their line-up looks, any squad equipped with Claudio Bravo, Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal has a strong chance of reaching the final four. Eduardo Berizzo is the coach and will probably go for a low block on defense, hitting Brazil’s weapons on the counter-attack, using experienced stars like Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal to hole their percentage of effectiveness against Selesao.
Key Areas for Brazil to Watch:
- Alexis Sánchez’s Movement: Playing either as a winger or centrally, Sánchez will look to exploit spaces behind Brazil’s fullbacks.
- Arturo Vidal’s Physicality: Vidal’s presence in midfield will make it difficult for Brazil to dominate possession. Bruno Guimarães and André must be prepared for a physical battle.
- Set-Pieces: With players like Medel and Maripán, Chile will be a threat from set-pieces, an area where Brazil’s defense must remain vigilant.
