Brazil will host Chile at the Maracana on Thursday in their final home qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, a game that carries very different weight for each side.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have already booked their ticket to the finals, though their campaign has been far from convincing, with Brazil sitting a distant second to Argentina and even flirting with qualification trouble earlier on.
A late win in Santiago against Chile was a turning point, helping steady the ship, and the Selecao have since lost just once in eight outings. That stability will be tested again, though the five-time world champions will expect to sign off comfortably at home.
For Chile, the trip to Rio is the last thing they need after a nightmare campaign that has condemned them to a third straight World Cup absence. A humiliating defeat to 10-man Bolivia sealed their fate months ago, leading to Ricardo Gareca’s exit and Nicolas Cordova’s interim spell in charge.
The stats make grim reading: one point, one goal scored, and no wins in eight away qualifiers this cycle. With Brazil unbeaten in their last five meetings, Chile’s only realistic aim is to avoid finishing bottom of the group, though even that feels like a stretch.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.
Brazil vs. Chile live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this World Cup qualifier in the U.S.:
TV channel: Telemundo, Universo
Live stream: Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, ViX
This game is available for live TV broadcast on Telemundo and Universo (Spanish), with streaming on Fubo, Peacock, ViX, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (all Spanish), and no English broadcast available.
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What time does Brazil vs. Chile kick off?
This World Cup qualifier takes place at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and kicks off on Thursday, September 4, at 9:30 p.m. local time.
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Thu, Sep. 4 | 8:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Thu, Sep. 4 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Thu, Sep. 4 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Thu, Sep. 4 | 5:30 p.m. |
Brazil vs. Chile lineups, team news
Ancelotti has done his former club Real Madrid a favour and left Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Endrick at home for this month’s qualifiers. This also means that Barcelona’s Raphinha is the only La Liga player in the squad.
Marquinhos is set to make his 100th appearance for the Selecao, but he will do so alongside inexperienced players, because the other seven defenders called up to the squad have a combined 29 caps between them.
In attack, Matheus Cunha of Manchester United is set to miss this game, having picked up an injury against Burnley at the weekend, leaving the door open for in-form duo Joao Pedro and Richarlison to start through the middle.
Brazil predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alisson (GK); Vanderson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Caio Henrique; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro; Raphinha, Joao Pedro, Estevao; Richarlison
Brazil full roster:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians).
Defenders: Alexsandro (Lille), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Fabrizio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Vanderson (Monaco), Wesley (Roma).
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Joelinton (Newcastle), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham).
Forwards: Estevao (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Raphina (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham).
On the other hand, following a dismal performance in June, new Chile boss Cordova has dropped 13 players from the previous squad picked by Gareca, including the suspended Francisco Sierralta.
Veteran trio Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal and Charles Aranguiz have all been left out, and could be looking at the end of their international careers, while Brayan Cortes will also not be involved, meaning all three goalkeepers are uncapped.
Chile predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Gillier (GK); Hormazabal, Maripan, Kuscevic, Suazo; Osorio, Echeverria, Loyola; Tapia, Brereton Diaz, Aravena
Chile Full Roster
Goalkeepers: Gillier, Reyes, Vigouroux
Defenders: Maripán, Díaz, Suazo, Kuscevic, Hormazábal, González, Garguez, Matus, Román
Midfielders: Echeverría, Osorio, Loyola, Pizarro, Assadi, Pérez, Altamirano, Cabral, Saavedra, Sepúlveda
Forwards: Brereton Díaz, Aravena, Cepeda, Tapia, Barticciotto, Gutiérrez, Ramos
World Cup qualifier fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Thursday, September 4
- Argentina vs. Venezuela (7:30 p.m.)
- Colombia vs. Bolivia (7:30 p.m.)
- Paraguay vs. Ecuador (7:30 p.m.)
- Uruguay vs. Peru (7:30 p.m.)
- Brazil vs. Chile (8:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, September 9
- Ecuador vs. Argentina (7:00 p.m.)
- Bolivia vs. Brazil (7:30 p.m.)
- Chile vs. Uruguay (7:30 p.m.)
- Peru vs. Paraguay (7:30 p.m.)
- Venezuela vs. Colombia (7:30 p.m.)