Vinicius Junior scored the only goal as Brazil beat Paraguay 1-0 to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

The Real Madrid forward was on target in the 44th minute at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, giving his former club boss Carlo Ancelotti a first victory since taking charge of the Selecao.

Home team Brazil, the five-time world champion, should have broken the deadlock in the 36th minute when Matheus Cunha was unable to hit the target after meeting Gabriel Martinelli's cross from two yards out.

However, Cunha played an instrumental role when Brazil did break through eight minutes later, stealing possession on the edge of the area before unselfishly squaring for Vinicius to tap home.

Brazil went close to doubling its advantage just before the hour mark, with Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres heading off the line to deny Bruno Guimaraes's audacious chip.

Junior Alonso headed narrowly over at the other end on 72 minutes, but that was the closest the visitor came to equalising, as Brazil held on to seal its spot in next year's finals.

Sealing the deal with two games to spare, Brazil remains the only nation to qualify for every edition of the World Cup, with the 2026 tournament set to be their 23rd appearance.

The Selecao, who will seek a record-extending sixth title, are unbeaten in their last five matches on home soil and now sit level on points with second-placed Ecuador in the qualifying table.

Meanwhile, Paraguay missed the opportunity to secure its own place in next year's finals, after suffering a first defeat in 10 games.

Nevertheless, time is on the side of La Albirroja. They are fifth in the standings and require just a single point from their last two matches to return to the tournament for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.