World Cup qualifying predictions, betting odds and tips: Samba Stars look too hot for Chile

Best bets

Brazil to win to nil vs Chile
Premier Sports 2, 1.30am Thursday night
1pt 3-4 Hills
Georgia draw no bet vs Turkey
Kick-off 5pm Thursday
1pt 6-5 Hills
Paraguay v Ecuador draw
Kick-off 12.30am Thursday night
1pt 2-1 bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes

Thursday's World Cup qualifying predictions

Brazil have clinched World Cup qualification with two games to spare and their build up to the 2026 tournament starts this week when they take on Conmebol basement boys Chile at the Maracana.

Samba Stars head coach Carlo Ancelotti seems keen to experiment in the early stages of his tenure and has omitted several key players from his squad including Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao, who he knows well from his team in the Spanish capital.

Ancelotti's options are also limited by injuries to Matheus Cunha and Joelinton but there is still plenty of match-winning talent at his disposal, including Barcelona's Raphinha and Premier League players Joao Pedro, Estevao, Richarlison and Gabriel Martinelli.

It is not a Brazil squad which would strike fear into the top international teams but it should be far too strong for Chile, who are out of qualification contention having won just two of 16 games.

Chile are keen to turn the page and new manager Nicolas Cordova has left out 13 players from the previous squad.

However, the Chileans appear to be just at the start of a period of transition and may struggle to lay a glove on their hosts, who can ease to victory without conceding.

Georgia caused a stir by reaching the round of 16 at Euro 2024 but they are no longer a team who can be easily dismissed and they can take a first step on the road to the 2026 World Cup by defeating Turkey in Tbilisi.

Willy Sagnol's side had mixed results in the 2024 Nations League, but they ultimately retained a place in League B and look ready to take on the challenge of a tough World Cup qualifying section.

The Georgians have been drawn alongside Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria in a four-team section which guarantees automatic qualification for the winners and a playoff spot for the runner-up.

Spain are the warm favourites to finish top, but Georgia and Turkey appear to be evenly matched and it may help the Georgians to start their campaign on home soil.

From Turkey's perspective, it looks a tricky start to their campaign.

The Crescent Stars must contend with a passionate crowd and a highly talented and well-balanced Georgian team featuring outstanding Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and fast-improving centre-forward Georges Mikautadze, who sealed a transfer deadline day move from Lyon to Villarreal.

Turkey are also a strong side who were quarter-finalists at Euro 2024.

However, they finished second to Wales in a slightly underwhelming Nations League Group B4 campaign and could make a slow start to World Cup qualifying.

Paraguay are on the brink of qualifying from the Conmebol section and can get over the line by drawing with Ecuador in Asuncion.

The match carries little importance for Ecuador, who are second in the ten-team section and assured of a place at next summer's finals.

But it means everything for Paraguay, who need one point from their final two matches to make sure of one of the five automatic qualification slots.

The Paraguayans are a bit stretched without key midfielder Mathias Villasanti and influential attacker Julio Enciso.

And they are up against a powerful Ecuador side featuring top-class central defenders William Pacho and Piero Hincapie plus Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Ecuador are a tough team to beat but they have had four goalless draws in eight away qualifiers and may be happy enough to settle for another share of the spoils.

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