Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru after sustaining a neck injury during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Villarreal, the Brazilian FA (CBF) confirmed on Sunday. This marks the fourth injury-related change in Brazil’s squad, as coach Dorival Jr grapples with key absences.
Vinicius’ injury adds to Brazil’s concerns, with the team currently fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, holding 10 points after eight matches. Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has been called up to replace the Real Madrid star ahead of Brazil’s matches against Chile on October 10 and Peru five days later.
Brazil’s injury list has grown, with Juventus’ Bremer, Liverpool’s Alisson, and Atletico Mineiro’s Guilherme Arana all ruled out. Dorival Jr has responded by summoning Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Beraldo, Palmeiras’ Weverton, and Botafogo’s Alex Telles as replacements. The top six teams in the 10-nation CONMEBOL table will qualify directly for the World Cup.
