Raphinha, first blaugrana through to World Cup 2026

A 1-0 win for Brazil at home to Paraguay was enough to send the canarinha through to the final stages of the 2026 World Cp to be played in Mexico, Canada and the USA next summer. The victory in São Paulo means that Raphinha is the first Barça player to have confirmed his place in the finals next year. 

Brazil are the only nation to have participated in every World Cup finals and are also the team who have won the trophy on most occasions on five with wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2022. 

13 nations now through

Brazil are the 13th country through to the final joining the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, South Korea, Australia, Ecuador and debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan. With qualifying continuing until next spring, more blaugranes are sure to join Raphinha in the tournament next summer. 

Brazil blaugrana again 

The tournament in 2026 will see Raphinha compete in his second World Cup after representing Brazil in Qatar in 2022. The seleção have boasted blaugrana representation in recent years on a regular basis. The 1994 winning side had Romario in the squad, Rivaldo played for Brazil in 1998 and 2002, Dani Alves in 2010 and in 2014 alongside Barça team mate Neymar. In 2018 both Coutinho and Paulinho were in the Brazil squad for the tournament in Russia.