Brazil v Colombia - Line-ups, stats and preview

Match preview for Brazil v Colombia

Two South American giants meet on Thursday night as Brazil and Colombia face off.

The expansion of the World Cup has provided some relief for South American teams, particularly Brazil, who might have faced a serious risk of missing out had the tournament remained a 32-team competition.

Brazil currently sits fifth in the standings, a position that in past editions would have only guaranteed a play-off spot.

With Paraguay in close pursuit, the Selecao will be eager to strengthen their qualification prospects, as the top six teams now earn automatic berths.

With just 18 points from 36 available, Brazil’s campaign has been underwhelming. Despite crucial wins over Peru and Chile in October, their failure to overcome Venezuela and Uruguay a month later left them in a precarious situation.

Dorival Junior remains at the helm, though doubts persist over whether he will still be in charge when the World Cup kicks off, given Brazil’s struggles in qualifying and their disappointing Copa America campaign last year.

With a heated encounter against Argentina looming next week, securing a victory here would relieve some pressure before heading to Buenos Aires.

VAMOS PRA CIMA! 🇧🇷🔥

A Seleção Brasileira deu início no final da tarde desta segunda-feira (17) à preparação para o confronto contra a Colômbia, pela 13ª rodada das Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2026. O primeiro treino da equipe comandada pelo técnico Dorival Jr. foi… pic.twitter.com/7AWGuK9cUR

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 18, 2025

Brazil will also be keeping a close watch on Bolivia and Venezuela, ensuring neither makes up significant ground.

Colombia made history in November 2023 when Luis Diaz’s double secured their first-ever World Cup qualifying victory over Brazil.

But despite an impressive 25-game unbeaten start under Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia has now suffered four defeats in their last seven matches.

A dramatic loss to Uruguay also dented morale, as Colombia equalised in the 96th minute, only for Manuel Ugarte to net a last-gasp winner in the 11th minute of added time.

Colombia have slipped from second to fourth in just two months, but with a six-point cushion inside the top six, their qualification prospects remain strong.

Team news for Brazil v Colombia

Brazil’s attacking options have been reshuffled following Neymar’s withdrawal due to injury. The forward had been called up after a 17-month absence but was forced to pull out, with Endrick stepping in as his replacement.

Lucas Paqueta, Ederson, and Igor Jesus were surprise omissions, while Lucas Moura and Oscar were also overlooked despite their returns to Sao Paulo.

Defensive concerns persist, with Eder Militao, Bremer, and Danilo all ruled out through injury. Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes and striker Richarlison will also miss the fixture due to fitness setbacks.

For Colombia, James Rodriguez is set to captain the side, returning to the country where he first made his name on the world stage during the 2014 World Cup.

Luis Diaz has endured a dip in form with Liverpool but remains a key figure for Los Cafeteros. Meanwhile, Jhon Duran’s recent move to Saudi Arabia has not impacted his inclusion.

Crystal Palace duo Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma, who had the weekend off due to the EFL Cup final, will be well-rested and ready to feature.