MIAMI — Thursday delivered a packed evening of South American fútbol with consequences that reach well into this summer’s World Cup. Brazil lost a friendly to France in Boston, Colombia fell to Croatia in Orlando, and Bolivia staged a dramatic second-half comeback in Monterrey to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Three matches, three stories, and three very different outlooks heading into the tournament that kicks off in June.
Brazil 1–2 France — Foxborough, Massachusetts
The biggest name absent from Gillette Stadium on Thursday night was not on the pitch. He was watching from home.
When the Brazil squad was announced for the March window, Neymar watched the list scroll on his phone during a massage session. When his name failed to appear, he looked directly at the camera and said: “Hey, Ancelotti. What about me?” That moment—equal parts humor and heartbreak—captured the mood surrounding Brazil’s most decorated player as the World Cup approaches.
Carlo Ancelotti has not called up Neymar in any of his five squad selections since taking the national team reins, citing fitness concerns. The coach has acknowledged he is aware of the debate, but has remained firm: “I observe and hear everything that is said about Neymar. It’s normal. Everyone can have an opinion on soccer. There is no clear science. I have to respect everyone’s opinion.”
Without him, Brazil faced France at Gillette Stadium—and lost. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring and Hugo Ekitike added a second as France won 2–1 despite being reduced to ten men after defender Upamecano was sent off in the 55th minute. Bremer pulled one back for the Brazilians, but Ancelotti’s side could not find an equalizer.
The defeat added volume to an already loud debate. Brazil legend Romario took direct aim at Ancelotti after the squad announcement, sending a message that resonated across South America. “A star player has to play,” Romario said.
“I want to make it clear that while I am fully in favor of Neymar going, I will continue to support the pursuit of the ‘Hexa’ even if he doesn’t. But the message is clear: Pay attention, mister!”
Ronaldo Nazário was more measured but equally direct. “If Neymar is physically fit, I would take him to the World Cup,” the two-time World Cup winner told CNN Brasil.
“He is a player who has already proven his worth everywhere he has been. We do not need to scout Neymar to take him to the World Cup. If Neymar is physically fit, I would take him.”
Even those inside Ancelotti’s current squad have weighed in. Vinicius Junior, one of Brazil’s modern leaders, offered an eight-word declaration that said everything:
“We always want to play with the best.”
Reports from within the Brazilian Fútbol Confederation describe Neymar’s situation as “extremely complicated” and potentially terminal for his World Cup hopes. Neymar has played just 23 matches since returning from long-term injury and missed Santos’ most recent match against Cruzeiro, a no-show that reportedly frustrated the national team coaching staff.
With the final World Cup squad announcement due in May, time is running critically short.
Neymar himself has refused to give up publicly. “Of course, my desire is to return to the national team, to play in the World Cup, but that doesn’t depend on me,” he said. “That’s up to the coaching staff to decide. I will always support the national team.” Brazil face Croatia in their next friendly match on March 31 in Orlando—their final warm-up before the roster is finalized.
Colombia 1–2 Croatia — Orlando, Florida
In the same international window, Colombia suffered its own setback, falling 2–1 to Croatia at Camping World Stadium in what was the first-ever meeting between the two nations—a result made doubly significant by the possibility they could face each other again at the World Cup this summer.
It was a match Colombia started with ambition, with Luis Díaz a constant threat on the left flank—running, pressing, winning possession, and creating chances throughout the match. But Igor Matanović headed in the winner for Croatia in the 43rd minute to seal a victory that leaves the Colombian camp with work to do ahead of their next fixture against France on March 29 in Maryland.
Colombia head into the World Cup as one of CONMEBOL’s most consistent recent performers, having qualified comfortably in third place with 28 points—behind only Argentina and Ecuador. Their 2025 run included a 3–0 demolition of Australia and a 2–1 win over New Zealand in the United States. The loss to Croatia is a reminder that the gap between a strong qualifying campaign and tournament fútbol is real, and that Néstor Lorenzo’s squad will need to improve its defensive organization if it is to advance deep into a competition that includes Portugal in its group.
Bolivia 2–1 Suriname — Monterrey, Mexico
The most dramatic result of the evening came from Guadalupe, Mexico, where Bolivia staged a second-half comeback to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Bolivia—who have played in only one World Cup, the 1994 edition in the United States—were down 1–0 early in the second half after Liam van Gelderen poked the ball past goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra in the 48th minute. What happened next was a testament to character. Substitute Moises Paniagua equalized in the 72nd minute, and Miguel Terceros converted a penalty in the 79th to seal a 2–1 victory and send Bolivia to the playoff final against Iraq on March 31, again in Monterrey.
Bolivia coach Oscar Villegas had a simple explanation for how his team found it: “I want to highlight the players’ character in never giving up; it’s a team that never considers anything lost and that today knew how to pull through.”
Should Bolivia defeat Iraq next Tuesday, they will qualify for Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal —an extraordinarily difficult group, but one that would represent a historic achievement for a country whose fútbol history has been largely defined by near-misses.
Iraq, Bolivia’s final obstacle, qualified from the Asian confederation and will bring its own motivation to Monterrey.
Bolivia’s chances are real but narrow. Iraq is a capable side and experienced in knockout tournament pressure. But after coming from behind against Suriname, La Verde has demonstrated the psychological resilience that sometimes makes the difference in single-elimination fútbol.
For South America, Thursday was a night that revealed as much as it concealed. Brazil has firepower without clarity. Colombia has ambition without consistency. And Bolivia has one more 90 minutes standing between them and the World Cup stage for the first time in 32 years.
With the World Cup just weeks away, South American fútbol has never had more on the line. Sociedad Media covers it all—from the pitch to the politics behind the beautiful game. Tips and story leads welcome at info@sociedadmedia.com
