The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up across continents, with South America and Africa both delivering high-stakes drama and a flurry of storylines as qualification enters a crucial phase. On one side of the globe, Brazil, five-time world champions, are fine-tuning their squad under the fresh leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, while over in Africa, a record number of nations are vying for a coveted place at the expanded tournament in North America.
Brazil’s journey to the World Cup is already secure, but the pressure is far from over. With the qualifying campaign wrapped up, the Selecao now turn their attention to building chemistry and sharpening tactics in the lead-up to next summer’s showcase event. Thursday night saw them face Chile at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, a fixture that was as much about experimentation as it was about results.
This match, which kicked off at 8:30 p.m. ET and was broadcast on Universo as well as streamed via Fubo and Peacock, offered a glimpse into Ancelotti’s evolving vision for Brazil. The Italian coach, in just his third game at the helm, has already made it clear that he intends to blend the attacking flair Brazil is famous for with the disciplined, winning mentality he instilled at Real Madrid. "My Brazil will play like Real Madrid, but not like Real Madrid this year, rather like Real Madrid last year," Ancelotti declared at his introductory press conference in May, setting a high bar for both style and substance.
Yet, Ancelotti’s Brazil is still a work in progress. After a 0-0 draw at Ecuador and a narrow 1-0 win over Paraguay, questions lingered about the team’s attacking spark. The match against CONMEBOL’s bottom-dwellers Chile was seen as an ideal opportunity for Brazil to find their rhythm in front of their home fans. With World Cup qualification already achieved, the focus shifted to squad rotation and the integration of new faces alongside established stars.
One of the most talked-about absentees from the squad was Neymar. The 33-year-old forward, often the heartbeat of Brazil’s attack, was left out for the second time in a row under Ancelotti. Officially, the coach cited a "minor injury" as the reason, but Neymar himself offered a different perspective. After playing a full 90 minutes for Santos in a 0-0 draw against Fluminense just days before the international break, Neymar told ESPN, "It was some swelling I had in my adductor, some discomfort, but it was nothing serious, so much so that I played today. I wasn't going to play against Bahía anyway, so they preferred to save me some training sessions, to leave me out so I could recover. I was left out for technical reasons, it has nothing to do with my physical condition, it's the coach's opinion and I respect it. Since I'm out, we'll just have to support the team."
Neymar wasn’t the only high-profile name missing. Vinicius Junior, one of Real Madrid’s brightest stars, was reportedly being rested, while Rodrygo’s absence was attributed to uncertain club status, even though he remains with the Spanish giants. This opened the door for a mix of newcomers and seasoned campaigners to stake their claim for a spot on the World Cup roster.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison, who has bounced back from an injury-plagued season with two goals in three Premier League matches, was among the key names in the squad. He was joined by Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and the 18-year-old Estevao Willian, both of whom have impressed at club level during the summer. Joao Pedro, in particular, has hit the ground running at Chelsea, netting five goals in six appearances since joining midway through their Club World Cup run. Estevao’s rapid adaptation to English football has also been a pleasant surprise for fans and pundits alike.
As Brazil continue to tinker with their lineup and tactics, the stakes remain high. The nation’s last World Cup triumph came in 2002, and the pressure to end that drought is palpable. With Ancelotti at the helm, expectations have only grown. The Italian’s pedigree and his promise to blend Brazilian flair with European pragmatism have set the stage for a fascinating build-up to next summer’s tournament.
Meanwhile, on the African continent, the battle for World Cup places is more intense than ever. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is in the midst of its most expansive qualification campaign yet, with 53 teams (after Eritrea’s withdrawal) competing for a record nine guaranteed spots at the 2026 World Cup—and the tantalizing possibility of a tenth via inter-confederation playoffs.
The first round of CAF qualification, which began in November 2023 and runs through October 2025, features nine groups with the top team in each group earning a direct ticket to the World Cup. The four best runners-up will move on to a playoff in November 2025, with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation playoff for a potential tenth berth.
Matchday 7, which spanned from September 3 to September 9, 2025, saw a flurry of fixtures and plenty of drama. Ghana drew 1-1 with Chad, while heavyweights like Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia all notched convincing wins. The standings as of early September paint a picture of fierce competition: Egypt leads Group A with 16 points, Tunisia tops Group H with 19 points, and Ghana holds the edge in Group I with 16 points. Other group leaders include Gabon, Algeria, Cape Verde, Morocco, and South Africa, each with their own star-studded squads and passionate fanbases.
CAF’s qualification campaign is notable not just for its sheer scale, but also for the wealth of talent on display. Dozens of Premier League players are suiting up for their national teams, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Manchester United’s Andre Onana (Cameroon), Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) and Yves Bissouma (Mali), and Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal). The participation of such stars underscores the growing strength and global profile of African football.
With the first six matchdays already completed and the next round of fixtures scheduled throughout September and October, the race for World Cup qualification is wide open. The expanded tournament format, which will see 48 teams compete in North America, has heightened the stakes and given more nations than ever a realistic shot at the world’s biggest stage.
Back in Brazil, the focus remains on perfecting the blend of youth and experience, style and substance. With Ancelotti’s tactical tweaks and the emergence of new attacking options, the Selecao are determined to recapture the magic that made them the most decorated team in World Cup history. As for Africa, every match feels like a final, with nations battling not just for pride, but for a place in footballing history.
As qualification continues across both continents, fans are treated to a feast of footballing action, unexpected twists, and the ever-present hope of World Cup glory. The countdown to 2026 is well and truly on—and the drama shows no signs of slowing down.
