Brazil vs Bolivia head-to-head – hosts look to remain invincible

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Brazil will begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under interim manager Fernando Diniz, looking to preserve their historic unbeaten record at home in this competition. This marks just their second competitive game in the Olympic stadium of Pará, popularly known as the Mangueirão. In 2005, on the road to Germany 2006, they overcame Venezuela 3-0, the goal scorers that day were Adriano, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. Bolivia are woeful on the road, currently on a world record 64-game winless streak in qualifiers. The Verde’s only wins abroad have been in Venezuela (1977 and 1993) and Peru (1989).

Brazil vs Bolivia head-to-head record

The sides first met on the biggest stage, a 1930 World Cup group game in the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, that match was a crushing 4-0 win for the Seleção and a sign of things to come. Brazil went on to win the next five meetings, including a resounding 10-1 triumph in São Paulo at the 1949 Copa América. That game remains the greatest margin of victory in any men’s international match for the Canarinha. 

You can count the number of Bolivian victories on one hand, and notably all were at home in the altitude of La Paz, with the exception of the inaugural 1963 win in Cochabamba. Two of the most celebrated results for the Andean side were draws in Brazil. In 1985 Erwin Sánchez silenced the 90,000 packed into the Morumbi, with a late equalizer against the hosts featuring Careca, Zico and Socrates amongst others. By 2008 Sánchez was now manager of his national team, and they played out a goalless draw in Rio de Janeiro as Ronaldinho and Robinho failed to find a way through.

• Brazil wins: 23
• Draws: 4
• Bolivia wins: 5

Brazil’s all-time goalscoring record is currently shared between Neymar and Pelé, both samba stars have scored 77 times for the Seleção. Bolivia’s record scorer Marcelo Moreno Martins is also expected to play and will captain the side. The topscorer in this fixture is Flamengo legendary midfielder Zico who netted eight times against the Verde.

Brazil vs Bolivia last four head-to-head record

Boliva 0-4 Brazil (29/03/2022)

Brazil picked up their best ever win over Bolivia in the altitude of La Paz, in what was a dead rubber of a qualifying game, with the hosts already out and the visitors having already qualified for Qatar. Although several stars were rested, the midfield duo of Bruno Guimrães and Lucas Paquetá was dominant. Both players scored in the rout, with another Premier League player Richarlison also scoring a brace.

Brazil 5-0 Bolivia (09/10/2020)

This was a spanking behind closed doors, as Brazil began their campaign in imperious style to dispel doubts over Tite and how he could play without Neymar. The then PSG idol missed the game through injury but Robert Firmino took the lead role bagging two goals at the game played in São Paulo.

Brazil 3-0 Bolivia (14/06/2019)

Another sizzling Seleção show in São Paulo, this time during the 2019 Copa América which the hosts would win. This time the Verde played their part, defending bravely in the first half as they hoped to turn the Morumbi crowd on the hosts. However, a Philippe Coutinho penalty settled the nerves in the 50th minute and he doubled the lead shortly after. Everton Cebolinha put the icing on the cake with his first senior international goal.

Bolivia 0-0 Brazil (05/10/2017)

Another dead rubber game that included the strange spectacle of Marcelo Moreno Martins lining up with the visitors side for the pre-match photo, a nod to his Brazilian father. Gabriel Jesús missed a host of chances with Carlos Lampe in top form between the sticks. This is the only time in the last six meetings that Bolivia has rescued a point against the five-time World Champions.

Brazil vs Bolivia what to expect

It is difficult to imagine anything other than utter domination even though Brazil are missing Vinicius Jr (injury) and Antony (disciplinary) who would have likely started the match in other circumstances. The Verdeamarelha won all eight home qualifiers in the previous edition, only conceding once, when Luis Suárez was in town with Uruguay. Bolivia enter the tournament in crisis, the domestic league is currently suspended following match fixing allegations. An almost impossible task on the field made harder by events taking place off it.

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