Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
David faces Goliath at Arena Pantalan on Friday morning as Brazil and Venezuela go head to head in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers round 3. The Selecao aim to keep their 100% record in the qualifiers intact and they are likely to adopt an attack-oriented approach against La Vinotinto. Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has overcome his injury, while David Neres has replace injured Barcelona forward Raphinha in the Brazil squad.
Venezuela, on the other hand, showed character in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay, but given their poor head-to-head record in meetings with Brazil, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. A man to keep an eye on in the visiting team will be experienced forward Salomon Rondon, who scored the winner from the penalty spot against La Albirroja. In their last meeting in the World Cup qualifiers Brazil defeated Venezuela 3-1.
Highlighted Player (Neymar):
Neymar is a Brazilian football superstar who plays for PSG as a winger. The pacey footballer, who is capable of playing as a centre forward as well, is well known his creativity, passing and finishing. Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes on 5 February, 1992 and he began his senior career at Santos. After scoring 54 goals in 103 appearances for the Brazilian outfit, he joined Barcelona in 2013.
The Brazilian ace signed a five-year deal with the Catalan outfit and he has been playing for the La Liga giants ever since. Neymar the 2014/2015 Champions League trophy with Barcelona and that is considered his biggest success. It has to be noted that he clinched the FIFA Club World Cup trophy with Barca as well.
Speaking of his international career, the Barcelona star made his Brazil debut on 10 August, 2010 against USA and it has to be noted that he scored on his debut. In 2013 he won FIFA Confederations Cup with the Brazilian national team. Neymar was born on 5 February, 1992.
Highlighted Team (Venezuela):
The Venezuela national team is the member of South American CONMEBOL confederation competing at the international stage since 1938, at the same time fighting for glory and popularity in the country where baseball diverts all of the attention from the sport. With increased popularity of the FIFA World Cup the country found enough motivation and incentive to increase player development and fan support in order to strengthen the cult of the national football team.
However, South American minnows Venezuela have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup and as of 2014 they remain the only CONMEBOL member not to achieve this feat. La Vinotinto have however appeared in 15 Copa America tournament with their first entry coming in 1967. Their best result was the fourth-place finish in 2011 and under the new leadership of Rafael Dudamet, Venezuela are looking for an upset at Copa America Centenario.
The most prominent player of the Venezuela national team is New York Cosmos midfielder Juan Arango who is the team’s top scorer and the player with most caps.