Peru needed to pick up points at Brazil's expense to keep their 2026 dream alive, but what they got was a crushing defeat that deepens their woes in the South American qualifiers.

Jorge Fossati's side started the match without Alex Valera, who was injured in the warm-up, but they defended well to keep the scores level and strike on the counter-attack.

Indeed, it was Peru who created the first excitement of the match when Edison Flores raced into space and shot past Ederson. However, the VAR flagged the left-back for offside and the score remained level.

The Bicolore continued to push forward, but Carlos Zambrano intercepted a ball in the area and the VAR alerted the referee, who did not see it at first. Raphinha beat Pedro Gallese to make it 1-0 on 38'.

Peru were a goal away from equalising, but Zambrano was again unlucky in the area, kneeing Savinho's advance. Raphinha again took responsibility and Gallese could do little about it on 54', although he guessed the direction of the shot.

Jorge Fossati opted to bring on Luis Ramos and Oliver Sonne for the cautioned Reyna and Castillo, but there was little change in the tone of the game and instead Brazil finished it off with the introduction of Luiz Henrique.

It took the Botafogo winger just four minutes to put the game beyond doubt. In the 71st minute, he set up Andreas Pereira with a scissor kick and three minutes later he made it 4-0 with a superb finish.

Peru finally collapsed and there was little response to a defeat that will damage their national hopes. Fossati's side remain second from bottom in the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings, but are now six points clear of the play-off zone.