On June 11, the 16th round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico City resumed. The traditional powerhouse Brazil played against Paraguay at home. With a key goal from Vinicius in the first half, they won 1-0 and successfully secured their ticket to the World Cup in advance, continuing their record of full attendance since the first World Cup.

The match was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazil needed a victory to boost morale after the unsatisfactory performance in the past two rounds. In the 44th minute, Cunha, who had just transferred to the Premier League giants Manchester United, made a precise assist, and Vinicius seized the opportunity to score, scoring the only goal for the host team.

This was the first victory for Brazil's new head coach Ancelotti after he took office, and his coaching start was also smooth. In terms of game control, the Brazilian team showed good ball control and organizational skills, suppressing the opponent throughout the game. Although they failed to expand the score, they successfully maintained the victory with solid defense.

With this victory, Brazil rose to the second place in the standings, and with two games left, it leads the seventh -placed Venezuela by 7 points, securing a top 6 spot in advance and successfully qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. This is the 23rd time that Brazil has qualified for the World Cup, and it is also the only national team in the world that has never missed any tournament since the first World Cup in 1930, demonstrating its tradition and heritage as a football kingdom.

On the other hand, Paraguay's ranking dropped to fifth place after losing this game . However, they still have a good prospect of advancing. They only need to get one more point in the next two rounds to secure their qualification. This makes the qualifying situation in the South American region clearer. Argentina and Brazil are both leading, and the competition for the remaining places is becoming increasingly fierce.

Brazil's victory is not only significant in terms of points, but also provides a positive signal for the team's preparations for the World Cup. Ancelotti's coaching strategy is gradually showing results, and the performance of young players such as Vinicius has injected new vitality into the team. The future of the Brazilian team is worth looking forward to.