Kyle Bonn
Brazil continue searching for a way out of their World Cup qualifying slump as they host an in-form Uruguay side in Bahia on Tuesday evening.
Sitting fourth in a crowded qualifying mid-table pack, Brazil are five points from Argentina at the top, but are also just a single point above sixth-placed Paraguay. A road draw at Venezuela last time out deepened the concerns as Vinicius Jr’s international struggles continued thanks to a missed penalty that could have won it.
The Selecao are extremely thin at multiple positions thanks to a host of injuries, with the likes of Rodrygo and Eder Militao out amongst others.
WATCH:Brazil vs. Uruguay CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier LIVE on Fubo (free-trial)
Uruguay, meanwhile, are in flying form that has them challenging for a top spot in the standings. They appeared to be slipping after a four-match run without a win, but a trilling victory over Colombia last time out returned them amongst the strongest contenders. Yet despite that, Brazil could go above Uruguay in the standings with a win in this match.
The Sporting News is following the Brazil vs. Uruguay match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. PT)
Location: Arena Fonte Nova (Bahia, Brazil)
Referee: Piero Maza Gomez (CHI)
Starting lineups:
Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Ederson (GK) — 2. Danilo, 4. Marquinhos, 14. Gabriel, 16. Abner — 15. Gerson, 5. Guimaraes — 20. Savinho, 10. Raphinha, 7. Vinicius Jr. — 9. I. Jesus.
Uruguay (4-3-3, right to left): Rochet (GK) — 13. Varela, 2. Gimenez, 16. M. Olivera, 3. Saracchi — 15. Valverde, 5. Ugarte, 6. Bentancur — 11. Pellistri, 9. Nunez, 20. M Araujo.
MORE: Find out how to stream the Brazil vs. Uruguay match LIVE
29th min: Gerson is flabbergasted as he’s called for a foul on Facundo Pellistri outside the Brazil penalty area. He’s livid as it appeared Pellistri touched the ball with his support arm as he went to ground before the Brazil midfielder then pushed him flat on the turf.
The decision gives Uruguay a very dangerous free-kick shaded towards the top-right corner of the penalty area, but the set-piece effort from Federico Valverde is disappointing and skitters well wide of the right post, never looking a threat.
20th min: Chance, Uruguay! Uruguay have the game’s first corner, but the fizzed delivery to the far post is cleared by Brazil and sent into midfield.
However, it’s not fully turned away and the visitors charge right back towards Ederson’s net. They end up in a great position to score, but Facundo Pellistri completely whiffs with his wild hack at the ball! He’s just 10 yards from goal but can’t pull the trigger! Then, moments later, Uruguay get two more crosses towards the mouth of goal but neither finds the target! A number of close calls for Brazil at the back.
12th min: The referee has a decision to make as Vinicius Jr. looks to split the last two defenders with a powerful run, and goes to ground as he’s sandwiched by the two Uruguayans! The Chilean official waves play on, and wags a finger at the Real Madrid man! It appeared to be the right call live.
6th min: A truly delicious vertical through-ball from Raphinha springs Gerson through on goal, but the ball is just barely too cooked, which allows Sergio Rochet to come bravely off his line and smother the chance. The Brazil midfielder gets there just a split-second late, and Rochet takes the brunt of the challenge to the face. He needs treatment but is eventually back to his feet.
3rd min: Brazil are pressing very high to start this match, and it’s causing lots of problems for Uruguay in possession. The hosts win the ball back, but Savinho and Raphinha get in each other’s way and the latter’s shot goes wide.
Kickoff: After a bit of a delay, they’re under way in Botofogo as Uruguay search for their first-ever World Cup qualifying victory on Brazilian soil!
15 mins to kickoff: Over halfway through the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying cycle, results begin to mean a lot more than they did a year ago. Each team plays 18 matches, one against each of the nine opponents at home and one on the road — this will be match 12 for both sides. A huge three points are at stake here!
For the occasion, in-form Brazil star Raphinha has donned the No. 10 worn by so many icons of the nation’s past, including Pele, Zico, and Ronaldinho. With Rodrygo absent due to injury, the famous number is his for the time being.
Raphinha will wear Brazil’s iconic No. 10 in their World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay 💫 pic.twitter.com/xQ09POOIgc
30 mins to kickoff: Following Vinicius Jr’s missed penalty last time out against Venezuela, Brazil head coach Dorival Jr. publicly yanked the Real Madrid man from penalty duties for the national team. Instead, he announced, Raphina will take spot-kicks moving forward.
Surprisingly, Vinicius has not been a prolific penalty taker in his career thus far. He has only attempted nine career penalties at the professional level not including shootouts, converting seven and missing two. The two he’s missed have both come at the national team level, with an effort missed in a 2018 friendly vs. Chile alongside last week’s failure.
Raphinha, meanwhile, has 10 successful penalties to one miss across his professional career, including two for Brazil back in October while Vini was out injured, both against Peru. His only miss came way back in 2017 while playing for Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes.
🇧🇷 Dorival quita galones a Vinicius y se los da a Raphinha en Brasil: “Si hay penalti, será el lanzador”https://t.co/T0CIM3YAIu
45 mins to kickoff: The Brazil lineup is in, and Dorival Jr. has named an unchanged XI from the draw with Venezuela days ago. The surprise there is that Lucas Paqueta is once again pipped in midfield by Gerson, with the Flamengo man able to keep his place.
It’s a tough blow for Paqueta who is the subject of transfer rumors in England, as multiple tabloid reports claim he has January transfer interest from Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Flamengo.
1 hour to kickoff: Uruguay confidently announced their starting lineup a full half-hour early. The only relative unknown in the XI being Marcelo Saracchi of Boca Juniors who slots in at left-back for his ninth international cap. It’s a vote of confidence from head coach Marcelo Bielsa who leaves the 26-year-old in for a second consecutive start after a strong performance against Colombia.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: To underscore just how dominant Brazil have been across their illustrious football history, here’s an eye-popping statistic: Uruguay have collected the second-most points of any opponent on Brazilian soil in their World Cup qualifying history. How many points is that? Three. Three total points in history, which puts them second-most of any South American nation, behind only Argentina with four.
Uruguay have never won a World Cup qualifying match on Brazilian soil, with three draws and three defeats in six total matches.
Uruguay’s results in Brazil in World Cup qualifying:
– 1993: 🇧🇷2-0🇺🇾
– 2000: 🇧🇷1-1🇺🇾
– 2003: 🇧🇷3-3🇺🇾
– 2007: 🇧🇷2-1🇺🇾
– 2016: 🇧🇷2-2🇺🇾
– 2021: 🇧🇷4-1🇺🇾
Uruguay’s away record vs. Brazil: 0-3-3
Only Argentina (4) have won more points than Uruguay (3) on Brazilian soil in the… pic.twitter.com/AIaXdBcVpE
1 hour 30 mins to kick: According to a few reports tonight, including Argentine publication Diario Ole, Brazil will adopt the anti-racism protocol recently recommended by FIFA in which a player can transparently signal to the referee that racist abuse is taking place by crossing their arms.
You can read an explainer here about how the protocol is implemented.
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Uruguay have had a roller coaster of a World Cup qualifying cycle. They were beaten by Ecuador on Matchday 2 over a year ago before rattling off six straight unbeaten, including consecutive wins over Brazil and Argentina for the first time in their history.
They then suffered a disappointing loss to Peru last month to put a damper on things, but their insane last-gasp win over Colombia days ago has erased any lingering bad taste in the mouth. What a wild ride to leave them second in the table — and what a disappointment it would be for struggling Brazil to leap them in the standings, which is what would happen should Brazil win tonight.
Darwin Núñez’ celebration for Manuel Ugarte’s match-winning goal was all of us.
Pure relief and elation. 🤩🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/CftBlr4fYN
2 hours to kickoff: Netflix announced today that a documentary on the life and career of Vinicius Jr. will be released sometime in 2025. It will be interesting to see his enormous club success juxtaposed alongside his international struggles. His Brazil career to this point has been a massive disappointment, his missed penalty days ago the latest chapter.
Can today be the day he lifts his national team to an important and emotional victory and turns around his Brazil career in the process? It only takes one!
Vini Jr., a documentary about the life and career of the 24-year-old Brazilian football idol, is coming to Netflix in 2025. pic.twitter.com/qwccKNE7qC
This World Cup qualifier kicks off from Arena Fonte Nova on Tuesday, November 19 at 9:45 p.m. local time in Bahia, Brazil. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
* Ecuador were deducted three points for registration violations regarding Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup cycle.
Brazil are still without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Man City shot-stopper Ederson will continue in goal in his absence.
Rodrygo, who was forced off early in Brazil’s recent match against Osasuna, will remain unavailable for some time, as will defenders Eder Militao and Bremer who are both out with ACL injuries.
The hosts will also have Lucas Beraldo, Fabricio Bruno, or Alex Telles unavailable for this fixture. Estevao Willian will also miss out due to a lack of match fitness. Vanderson is suspended, while Endrick was surprisingly not called in.
Brazil starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson (GK) — Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Abner — Gerson, Guimaraes — Savinho, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr. — I. Jesus.
Brazil subs (12): Krepski (GK), Weverton (GK), Murillo, L. Ortiz, Dodo, Telles, Paqueta, Andre, A. Pereira, Henrique, Martinelli, Estevao.
For Uruguay, Darwin Nunez will lead the attack while his CONMEBOL suspension remains in limbo thanks to an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ronald Araujo has accepted his suspension to serve while he remains out with a serious hamstring injury, while Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Nicolas de la Cruz are both absent due to injuries of their own.
Uruguay will need to carefully manage the disciplinary situation of several key players. Manuel Ugarte, Santiago Bueno, Nahitan Nandez, and Jose Maria Gimenez are all one booking away from suspension.
Uruguay starting lineup (4-3-3): Rochet (GK) — Varela, Gimenez, M. Olivera, Saracchi — Valverde, Ugarte, Bentancur — Pellistri, Nunez, M Araujo.
Uruguay subs (11): Mele (GK), Israel (GK), Marichal, J. Rodriguez, J. L. Rodriguez, Fonseca, F. Torres, B. Rodriguez, L. Rodriguez, C. Olivera, Aguirre.
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Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.
