Brazil beat Ecuador 1-0 on Friday to get their poor 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a better start. Rodrygo scored the only goal.

Rodrygo’s blocked goal in the 30th minute was enough to give Brazil all three points. Before Friday’s game in Curitiba, Brazil was in sixth place in the South American qualifying standings.

They moved up to fourth place with 10 points from seven games after their third win of the qualifying campaign, but they are still eight points behind team leader Argentina.

The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and it will have space for 48 teams. The top six teams in South American qualifying will automatically be sent to the event. The seventh-placed South American team moves on to a play-off between confederations.

Brazil hasn’t done well in recent international events. They lost in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup and didn’t make it past the last eight at this year’s Copa America.

The lack of fluidity that has been a feature of their recent play was again clear against Ecuador on Friday. Even though they had the ball for long stretches, they didn’t create many clear-cut chances to score, managing only three shots on goal.

Around the half-hour mark, Rodrygo scored when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area, took a touch, and then shot from 25 yards out. The shooter for Real Madrid’s shot hit Ecuador’s Willian Pacho on the head before going in off the post.