Brazil Coach Sees Progress In 2026 World Cup Qualification Despite Having Difficulty

Brazil coach Dorival Junior saw the progress of his team despite stumbling in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (Instagram/@cbf_futebol).

JAKARTA - Brazil coach Dorival Jr., said his team was progressing despite being in fifth place in the standings ahead of the crucial 2026 Conmebol Zone Qualification continued match against Colombia and Argentina.

The five-time World Cup winner has struggled with increasing pressure after winning just two of their last five games amid a series of poor performances.

Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw in a row against Venezuela and Uruguay in their last two matches.

However, Dorival hopes they will rediscover their identity and return to winning ways as they host Colombia in the Brazilian capital on Friday, March 21, 2025, morning WIB.

"We are responsible for the current team's performance and for everything that has happened."

"We want to bounce back in a tournament that is getting tighter every year. To be consistent again, we need to restructure ourselves once and forever and look for organizations to have good defense and efficient attacks."

"I would be more worried than today if I didn't see progress despite the latest results."

"We are trying to make corrections so that the next result can be different, but there is progress even though many do not want to see it," Dorival said at a press conference on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, local time.

Brazil has been in an unknown territory for more than two years since being knocked out of the 2022 World Cup by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals, a heartbreaking elimination that led to the exit of old manager Tite.

Dorival was appointed in early 2024 after the team spent one year under two interim coaches as the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) tried and failed to lure Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.

The head coach of Selecao has so far failed to gain the trust of demanding Brazilian fans after winning just six of his 14 games, including the Copa America campaign when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Uruguay.

Brazil is fifth in the standings with 18 points, one point ahead of Paraguay and one point behind Colombia and Ecuador.

Uruguay is second with 20 points, while Argentina is at the top with 25 points.

Only the top six teams are guaranteed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Brazil will face Colombia with seven players who could miss Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at home to Argentina if they receive yellow cards, including core players, such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Bruno Guimaraes, and Gabriel Magalhaes.

In the Conmebol Zone 2026 World Cup Qualification, two yellow cards will result in automatic suspension.

Brazil will play without its star Neymar, who is preparing to return to play after more than a year of recovering from a knee ligament injury. However, he was absent last week due to a muscle injury.

Dorival remained silent about his team's choice, but praised Brighton & Hove Albion striker, Joao Pedro.

"Regarding Neymar, it's only natural that we put all our efforts into building a team around a player like him."

"It didn't happen and I hope he recovers soon. Joao Pedro is very versatile, the striker who sometimes plays the striker, sometimes as the second striker."

"He can be an asset, but we have a choice," said Dorival.