The Brazilian national team’s first match under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti resulted in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match, held in Ecuador, saw both teams struggle to find the back of the net, leaving Brazil in a precarious position in the qualifying standings.

Meanwhile, Argentina, already qualified for the World Cup, secured a 1-0 victory against Chile in Santiago. Julian Al-Fariz scored the lone goal, solidifying Argentina’s lead in the group with 34 points from 15 games. Chile’s defeat further diminishes their chances of direct qualification, as they fall behind in the race for the top six spots.

Ancelotti, 65, recently joined the Brazilian team after leaving Real Madrid. He replaced Dorieval Junior, who was let go due to disappointing results, including a heavy 4-1 loss to Argentina in March.

With the draw against Ecuador, Brazil currently sits fourth in the standings with 22 points, trailing Ecuador (24 points). Six teams will directly qualify for the finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The seventh-placed team will have a chance to qualify through a playoff.

In other matches, Paraguay defeated uruguay 2-0, putting them level on points with Ecuador. Ecuador had previously been penalized 3 points due to false birth documents for their player, Peron Castio.