Brazil fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in their CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night. Playing at the Arena Fonte Nova, the match featured thrilling goals from both sides and left Brazilian fans with mixed emotions.
After a tightly contested first half, Uruguay broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde unleashed a powerful low shot from long range that found the far corner of the net, giving the visitors the lead.
The Brazilian squad responded swiftly. Just seven minutes later, Flamengo midfielder Gerson capitalized on a poor clearance by the Uruguayan defense. Seizing the moment, he struck a spectacular volley past the goalkeeper, marking his first international goal and leveling the score.
“I’d actually swap my goal for the win,” Gerson admitted after the match. “We knew it was a tough game and we wanted to win. We conceded the goal and got the equalizer. We’ll just have to keep working and trust in our efforts.”
Despite Brazil’s relentless push for a winner, late attempts from Luis Enrique and Raphinha narrowly missed the target. As the final whistle blew, some frustration was evident among the home crowd, with boos echoing through the stadium.
“I think the booing is more about the result,” Raphinha commented. “In my opinion, we gave it our all. I’m proud of everyone—those who played and those on the bench. We did everything we could to get the win. We have to keep our heads held high.”
The draw places Brazil fifth in the CONMEBOL standings with 18 points, just behind Colombia and Ecuador. Uruguay stands second with 20 points, trailing leaders Argentina by five points. The top six teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Brazil will aim to climb the rankings in their upcoming matches next year. As Gerson emphasized, it’s about continuing to work hard and believing in their collective effort.
Reference(s):
Gerson gives Brazil 1-1 draw with Uruguay in World Cup qualifier
cgtn.com
