Nicolas de la Cruz of Uruguay celebrates with teammate Darwin Nuñez after scoring the workforce’s second aim in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Uruguay and Brazil at Centenario Stadium on October 17, 2023 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photos
Brazil striker Neymar suffered a serious-looking left knee damage throughout his nationwide workforce’s 2-0 loss at Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night time.
Uruguay’s targets got here on a header by Darwin Núnez within the forty second minute and a close-range end by Nicolás de la Cruz within the 77th. It was Brazil’s first defeat in 37 matches of World Cup qualifying.
Neymar, a 31-year-old making his 128th look for Brazil, left the sector in tears after being surrounded by gamers from each groups. With and with out Neymar, Brazil had its worst efficiency underneath new coach Fernando Diniz, who will stay within the job at the least till subsequent yr’s Copa America.
“Within the brief run we should be reasonable, we have to enhance,” Brazil captain Casemiro mentioned. “For Neymar to depart the match it’s certainly one thing critical. However I hope it is not on the finish. He has had these accidents each time he begins choosing up his tempo once more, it’s laborious.”
Later Tuesday, World Cup winner Argentina, which led South American qualifying with wins in its first three matches, was to play at Peru.
Earlier, Venezuela shocked Chile 3-0. Yeferson Soteldo opened the scoring shortly earlier than the break, Salomón Rondón added a aim within the 72nd minute and Darwin Machis put the ultimate quantity on the scoreboard seven minutes later. Final week, Venezuela had a 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil.
Ecuador and Colombia had a goalless draw, and Paraguay beat Bolivia 1-0 with a aim by Antonio Sanabria within the 69th minute.
Argentina led South American qualifying with 9 factors getting into Tuesday’s matches. Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela had seven factors and had been separated by aim distinction. Colombia had six factors, and Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile had 4 every. Peru had one level and Bolivia had zero.
The following World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada will embody 48 groups, that means direct entry for the highest six groups in South America. The seventh-place workforce will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.
Two extra rounds of South American World Cup qualifying might be performed in November. Brazil and Argentina will face off on the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21.
