Fri Oct 11 00:04:44 UTC 2024: ## Brazil Faces World Cup Qualification Crisis as Injuries Cripple Squad

**SAO PAULO** – Five-time World Cup champions Brazil find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they face crucial qualifiers against Chile and Peru with a depleted squad due to injuries. The team, currently fifth in the standings on 10 points, is teetering on the edge of missing the 2026 World Cup for the first time in history.

Brazil has suffered from a series of poor performances in recent qualifiers, losing four of their last five matches. This poor form has put them in a tight race for qualification, with Paraguay and Bolivia just one point behind.

Manager Dorival Jr., who took over in January after a year of caretaker coaches, has won only two competitive games and is grappling with the team’s inconsistency. Following a disappointing Copa America campaign, Brazil snatched a narrow victory against Ecuador but then suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to Paraguay.

The team’s woes are further compounded by a string of injuries that have forced Dorival to make five changes to his starting lineup for the upcoming matches. Key players such as goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Bremer, Eder Militao, and Guilherme Arana, as well as forward Vinicius Jr, are all sidelined.

To fill the void, Dorival has made the surprising decision to start Botafogo forward Igor Jesus against Chile, despite his first call-up for the national team. Real Madrid teenager Endrick, who was expected to start, will be benched.

“What I see is that Igor’s moment is very interesting, Endrick is still getting to know his new club, he’s arriving at the biggest club in world football with a lot of competition,” Dorival said.

Jesus, 23, has impressed since joining Botafogo from Emirati club Shabab Al-Ahli in July, scoring seven goals in 19 games. Dorival believes Jesus’s experience and current form make him a valuable asset for the critical matches against Chile and Peru.

“Maybe it’s important to have players with this profile for a game of this magnitude and at this time,” Dorival stated.

The pressure is mounting for Brazil as they head into the crucial qualifiers. A slip-up against either Chile or Peru could leave them on the brink of missing the World Cup for the first time.

Read More