Brazil's Marquinhos and his teammates participated in a training session in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. — AFP
Five-time World Cup champions Brazil have had a mixed performance in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. However, defender Marquinhos urged fans to remain supportive ahead of Tuesday's home match against Uruguay. With a record of five wins, four losses, and two draws, Brazil are currently in fourth place with 17 points, trailing leaders Argentina by five points. The top six teams automatically qualify for the World Cup in North America, with Uruguay in second place on 19 points.
Brazil's recent 1-1 draw against Venezuela, where Vinicius Jr missed a late penalty, showcased the team's struggles. Stand-in captain Marquinhos emphasized the players' pride in representing their country, regardless of the results.
"Even though many factors might lead people to lose hope in the national team, we ask that they never lose their passion for it," the 30-year-old said during a Sunday news conference. Brazil, under the guidance of head coach Dorival Junior, is undergoing a transitional phase. Marquinhos acknowledged that it will take time to address the issues.
"We will still make some mistakes because this transition is still very new, with all these changes of players and teams," Marquinhos said, who is filling in for regular captain Danilo. "But we will make fewer and fewer mistakes, and that makes us happy." He added that the team is focused on improving their performance rather than worrying too much about the standings.
Brazil will face Uruguay on Tuesday without several key players, including defender Eder Militao and forwards Neymar and Rodrygo, who are sidelined due to injuries.
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