Brazil has replaced Paraguay in the final 2026 men’s Rugby World Cup qualifier to be hosted by Dubai from November 8-18.

The decision to include Brazil was made after Paraguay admitted fielding an ineligible player in the previous qualifiers. World Rugby, in a press statement accepted the voluntary withdrawal and admission by Paraguay. “This is a difficult moment for our team and our community, but it is a decision we must make as men of principle, in keeping with rugby’s core value of integrity,” Gustavo Borognon told World Rugby in an interview. 

As a result, Brazil will now play against Namibia, the only African team who are eyeing qualifying for their eighth Rugby World Cup  championship after making their debut in 1999 where they were placed in Pool C with France, Fiji and Canada.

Already, Namibia have named their team for the qualifiers in Dubai. The team has: Forwards – Adriaan Booysen, Adriaan Ludic, Armand Cambrinck, Gianluca Savoldelli, Haitembu Lazarus Shikufa, Johan Luttig, Johan Retief, Johannes Coetzee, Joshua Bester, Louis van der Westhuizen, Muharua Wilhelm Katjijeko, Otja Auala, Prince Gaoseb, Riaan Grove, Tiaan de Klerk, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Wian Conradie.

Backs: Andre van de Berg, Andrew Kearns, Aston Mukwiilongo, Cliven Loubser, Danco Burger, Danie van der Merwe, Divan Rossouw, Helarius Axasman Kisting, Jacques Theron, Jay Cee Nel, J. C. Greyling, Johan Deysel, Jurgen Meyer.

Management: Jacques Burger (Director of Rugby), Tersia Venter (Team Manager), Pieter Rossouw (Head Coach), Jaco Engels (Scrum Coach), Darryl De La Harpe (Skills Consultant), Rohhan Kitshoff (Forwards Coach), David Philander (Back Line Coach), Devon O’Brien (Video Analyst), Wilfred Bezuidenhoudt (Team Doctor), Tanya Green (Lead Physiotherapist), Sergio De La Harpe (Lead Strength and Conditioning), Zandrea Strauss (Media and Communications)

Fixtures

Match day 1, November 8: Samoa v Brazil, Belgium v Namibia.

Match day 2, November 13: Belgium v Brazil, Samoa v Namibia.

Match day 3, November 18: Namibia v Brazil, Samoa v Belgium.