Brazil was the first team in South America to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
The Seleção around Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) won 1-0 (0-0) against Colombia with returnees James Rodríguez in São Paulo on Thursday (local time).
Previously, Chile had won 1-0 against Paraguay in Asunción and moved up to fourth place ahead of Colombia in the South American qualifiers.
Lucas Paquetá (Olympique Lyon) scored the goal for Brazil in the 72nd minute after an assist by Marquinhos and a pass from Neymar. It was Brazil's eleventh victory in its twelfth World Cup qualifier. "This qualification is the result of the work we have done in the past," said Paquetá on Brazilian television. "I cried with happiness (at the goal) because of the phase that I'm going through in the national team and at Lyon."
Coach Tite said that by the time the World Cup starts, he is aiming for "stability, creativity, goals and wins" in about a year. “That is excellence. That's what drives us. We have to come as close as possible. ”The players celebrated in the locker room with a flag of Qatar and the Brazilian flag, as Neymar posted on Instagram. The star was hugged and lifted in the air by a fan who made it onto the lawn after the game before security guards escorted him off the field. Neymar stayed calm, even hugged the fan for a moment.
The South America qualification for the World Cup next winter leads Brazil (34 points) ahead of Argentina (25), Ecuador and now Chile. The fourth place, which still entitles to direct qualification, is hard fought between Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. The fifth placed participates in the intercontinental playoffs. Ecuador had defeated the last, Venezuela, 1-0.
Argentina will face Uruguay in Montevideo on Friday and the Seleção in San Juan will face Argentina on November 16.
Because of the Corona scandal in São Paulo, Brazil and Argentina have one game less than the other teams.
Their game in São Paulo at the beginning of September was canceled after a few minutes because officials from the Brazilian health authority Anvisa wanted to remove three Argentines playing for English clubs because of alleged violations of the Corona regulations.