Brazil vs Bolivia prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-09-08 00:45.
Although the 2026 FIFA World Cup (FWC) is still the best part of three years away, CONMEBOL’s marathon qualifying competition necessitates an early start. That means Brazil, the perennial favourites to top the CONMEBOL qualification standings as they did in their last four World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) campaigns, can use this time to build a squad capable of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup triumph.
The last of those was more than two decades ago in 2002, which coincidentally was the last time the Seleção did not finish atop the CONMEBOL WCQ heap. A continuation of their current form may result in a repeat of that, since they’ve lost three of their last four matches (W1), but Brazil always seem to turn it around when it matters most, personified by being the only nation to feature in all 22 prior FWC finals.
Opponents Bolivia cannot say the same, having featured on football's biggest stage only three times before in 1930, 1950 and 1994. That should come as no surprise considering they’ve somewhat served as a punching bag in WCQs, finishing either last or second-last in the standings in six of the last seven qualifying cycles.
But perhaps FIFA expanding the 2026 World Cup from 32 teams to 48 will inspire them, with the top-six sides automatically qualifying as opposed to the top-four in previous editions. Getting that endeavour off to a positive start here seems improbable given they’re not only winless against Brazil in six H2Hs (D1, L5), but failed to score on each occasion.
Players to watch: Neymar is currently tied with the legendary Pelé as Brazil’s all-time top-scorer with 77 goals, while the Seleção have won a stunning 54 of the 59 games he scored in (D3, L2). Meanwhile, Marcelo Moreno could make his 103rd international appearance to become Bolivia’s most capped player. But he may need to be patient to add to his goal tally, with five of his last seven international goals coming after half-time.
Hot stat: There has been a goal scored between the 75th minute and the end of regulation time in six of Brazil’s last seven matches.