Brazil Remains Undefeated at Home in World Cup Qualifiers as Argentina Visits the Maracanã
Scratch has built a formidable run of matches without a defeat against Argentina, a streak both teams know could end soon as the Albiceleste travel to Brazil with hopes of unseating the long-standing homehold advantage in one of the sport’s most storied rivalries.
Brazil has the distinction of being the only national team to have participated in every World Cup since the tournament began in 1930. On multiple occasions, Brazil qualified automatically as a host nation for specific editions, notably in 1950 and 2014, while also earning direct qualification through defending champions status in several other campaigns. In total, Brazil reached the World Cup through direct host status or as current champions in four different editions, attesting to a tradition of consistent performance across generations.
Throughout the South American qualifiers, Brazil has demonstrated its strength, building a remarkable unbeaten run on its own soil that Argentina now seeks to challenge during the visit to Rio de Janeiro. The Maracanã, a venue steeped in history, was the stage for a decisive moment in recent years when Brazil defeated Scratch in the Copa América final held on July 10, 2021. That night underscored Brazil’s ability to perform under pressure when it matters most and highlighted the domestic atmosphere that often tilts the balance in its favor. (Goal)
HOW MANY GAMES HAS BRAZIL PLAYED WITHOUT LOSING AT HOME IN THE ELIMINATIONS
Since the inception of the present classification format in 1954, Brazil has participated in 14 qualifying cycles up to and including the current edition. In that span, the team has accumulated an impressive record on home soil, playing a total of 65 matches and leaving the pitch with 52 victories and 13 draws. Importantly, Brazil has not suffered a home defeat in this sequence, a statistic that reinforces the aura of Brazil’s famous home advantage in World Cup qualifiers. (Goal)
Looking more closely at head-to-head results on Brazilian turf reveals a notable pattern. The national side has faced Argentina more times at home than any other opponent in these qualifiers, with four meetings. The head-to-head results in Brazil’s favor include three wins and one draw, while one match was halted after five minutes during the Brazil-Qatar 2022 qualification journey, a rare interruption in this era of relentless football. The lone draw between the teams on Brazilian soil occurred in 2008 as a 0-0 result in Belo Horizonte, a reminder that these matches can still be tightly contested even when Brazil is at home. It’s worth noting that prior to the 1998 World Cup cycle, the format shifted from a simple round-robin to more segmented group structures, which affected how teams from the two football powerhouses compared across different qualifying campaigns. (Goal)
Beyond Argentina, Brazil’s record on home soil against other South American nations speaks to a broader pattern. The team has posted an ideal run against Chile and Ecuador, collecting seven and six wins respectively in their meetings on Brazilian turf. In contrast, the encounter with Uruguay stands out as the most balanced, yielding three wins and three draws. These records illustrate Brazil’s regional dominance at home while also highlighting the occasional resilience of its closest rivals. (Goal)
In sum, Brazil’s home performances in World Cup qualifiers have cemented a reputation for sustained excellence and tactical sophistication when playing in front of its supporters. The upcoming match against Argentina at the Maracanã is not only a test of form but also a measuring stick for how each side has evolved in recent years. The outcome could either extend the unbeaten stretch at home or add a new chapter to one of football’s most storied rivalries. (Goal)