Brazil beat Ecuador, Rodrygo strike ends World Cup qualifying winless streak | 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Rodrygo scored the winning goal in the first half as Brazil defeated Ecuador 1-0 in Curitiba to end a four-game unbeaten run in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The 23-year-old Real Madrid swinger scored in the 30th minute with a shot from outside the penalty area that was saved by a defender and went in off the right post. The victory gave the Selecao’s qualifying campaign a boost after they lost to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina at the end of 2023 after a 1-1 home draw with Venezuela.

Looking for an early goal to calm their nerves, the hosts nearly pulled it off when Vinícius Júnior kept keeper Hernán Galíndez in check, with the striker’s save finding the side netting. After Rodrygo’s opener, Moisés Caicedo was denied an equaliser, first by Alisson’s save and then by Gabriel Magalhães, who cleared his follow-up shot off the line.

Rodrygo came close to scoring a second with a shot at the near post that Galíndez pushed away, but it was Ecuador who looked the most likely to score in the closing stages. Dorival Júnior’s side held on and are now fourth in the South American table, with Ecuador sixth – the last direct qualification spot – after their five-match unbeaten run came to an end.

Uruguay were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay in Montevideo when Luis Suárez played his 143rd and final international match. The 37-year-old hit the post with an acrobatic shot in the 19th minute after Julio Enciso had hit the woodwork from long range for the visitors.

Miguel Almirón was denied by Uruguayan keeper Sergio Rochet before half-time and although the home side dominated the ball in the second half, it was Paraguay who came closest to scoring when Diego Gómez hit the post from the edge of the penalty area. Uruguay remain second in the table, with Paraguay in the play-off spot in seventh.

Colombia remain unbeaten with three wins and four draws after a 1-1 draw with the bottom team Peru in Lima. Liverpool striker Luis Díaz equalised in the 81st minute, turning in a header from Jhon Durán, preventing a surprise win for the home side after Alexander Callens had put Peru ahead in the 67th minute.

On Thursday, table topping Argentina secured their sixth win in seven qualifying matches by beating Chile 3-0 in Buenos Aires. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring shortly after half-time, netting from a Júlian Álvarez cross.

Álvarez scored the second with a long-range shot six minutes from time, with substitute Paulo Dybala completing the scoring in injury time. Argentina face Colombia on Tuesday in a rematch of the Copa América final.