Uruguay vs Brazil Tips and Predictions
This week’s highlight of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying in South America has to be the match between Uruguay and Brazil, two of the strongest teams on the continent. The game will kick off on Tuesday, October 17, at 9:00 pm local time (UTC-3).
Despite these compliments, though, both teams are coming after disappointing results in the previous round. Uruguay currently sits fourth while Brazil is second, with world champions Argentina topping the standings. However, this should only serve as extra motivation for the two sides ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
Going into our Uruguay vs Brazil tips, we will take into account the form of the two teams and their recent head-to-head record.
Both to score? Yes
Before going any further, we should mention that neither Uruguay nor Brazil, for different reasons, have the best backline in South America at the moment.
In the three matches so far, Uruguay failed to keep a single clean sheet, conceding a total of five goals. Their issue is the lack of a top-level goalkeeper, as veteran Fernando Muslera is no longer an option under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.
As for Brazil, they have kept one clean sheet, but that was in the match against Peru, a team that hasn’t scored a single goal in the tournament so far. The Selecao, coached by the attack-minded Fernando Diniz, has conceded to both Bolivia and Venezuela. They seem to be missing Eder Militao who is out with a long-term injury.
Considering the defensive issues of the two teams, we can see both Uruguay and Brazil ending up on the scoreboard. Bet365 offers 1.95 odds on it happening.
Draw
In general, Uruguay have not been very successful in their matches against Brazil in recent years. Out of the last five official matches, four ended in favour of Selecao and there was one draw. They have also lost the last three home matches against Brazil. However, we believe that they will be more lucky this time and get a draw, with odds on it being 3.40 on Bet365.
In our Uruguay vs Brazil tips, we expect a balanced game with scoring opportunities on both ends. It is important to keep in mind that both national teams have newly-appointed coaches who are yet to set up the playing styles they envision in their heads. This was evident in their recent matches, as Uruguay struggled to get a draw with Colombia (2-2) on the road while Brazil miraculously dropped points against Venezuela (1-1) at home.
Moreover, the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying is only in its initial stages so there is no real pressure for results at the moment. A draw in Montevideo could be a decent result for both.
Darwin Nunez to score anytime
One of the main tasks of Marcelo Bielsa is to rejuvenate the national team, and that is why Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are no longer options for Uruguay. In their absence, Darwin Nunez has become La Celeste's main man upfront.
The striker had a decent start of the season with Liverpool, contributing with four goals and three assists in 10 matches so far. The 24-year-old also scored in Uruguay's latest draw with Colombia, converting a penalty in the added time.
Darwin Nunez appears to be building momentum, and it is reasonable to expect him to score on Tuesday – he needs to prove that he is a viable successor to Suarez and Cavani, and Brazil offers the perfect opportunity to do so. Bet365’s odds on him scoring anytime stand at 3.20.
Please remember to always gamble responsibly. Our Uruguay vs Brazil tips are mere suggestions, not a call to action. Always rely on your own judgement first and foremost.