Uruguay vs Brazil was a fixture first played in 1916 and although steeped in history, recent encounters have been one-sided in the latter’s favour, so the hosts are up against it as they bid to improve their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (WCQ) campaign record (W1, D1, L1). Uruguay haven’t won a H2H anywhere since 2001 (D3, L9), and new manager Marcelo Bielsa’s personal H2H record isn’t much better either (W2, L8).
Even home advantage hasn’t seemed to help La Celeste as they’ve lost the last three H2Hs they’ve hosted whilst conceding an average of 3.33 goals per game. This is a good early test to see what impact Bielsa’s methods are having, particularly as they haven’t lost at home since November 2021 (W6), with three of those wins coming under the 68-year-old Argentine boss’ guidance earlier this year.
Brazil unexpectedly drew their last match 1-1 with Venezuela, maintaining their unbeaten WCQ start (W2, D1). Letting in late goals is becoming a theme however, as the visitors’ equaliser on Friday now means the five-time World Cup winners have conceded three times after the 75th minute in four internationals (W2, D1, L1), highlighting a potential weakness that Uruguay may try and exploit.
Having lost four of their last seven contests on foreign soil (W3), it is clear that the Seleção have not travelled well recently, something Fernando Diniz, appointed on an interim basis in July, will look to address. That said, the last time Brazil lost a WCQ away game was back in October 2015 (W11, D7), so they remain a formidable force in South America.
Players to watch: Two of Real Madrid’s biggest stars are set to face one another in Uruguay’s Federico Valverde and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior. The former is fresh from producing three assists in two matches for Los Blancos, one of them for Vinícius, who scored twice between the 25th and 65th minute across those same two outings.
Hot streak: Brazil haven’t conceded before half-time in a competitive fixture since October 2021 (HT: W7, D9).
