At a dreary Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Liverpool forward Nunez broke the deadlock with a bullet header in the 42nd minute.

Later, in the 77th minute, with the score 2-0, the Premier League player was instrumental in Uruguay’s second goal, holding up the ball well from a throw-in and cutting back for Nicolas de la Cruz to blast past Brazil goalkeeper Ederson.

Since beating the “Selecao” 1-0 in Montevideo in July 2001, this was Uruguay’s first victory over Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match.

Five-time world champions Brazil suffered another disappointing loss after being beaten to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela in the previous round.

With the win, Uruguay is tied with Brazil and Venezuela on seven points, two behind early pacesetters Argentina, who have nine points after three games. On Tuesday evening, Argentina will play Peru in Lima.

The 3-0 victory over Chile in Maturin strengthened Venezuela’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in their nation’s history.

‘La Vinotinto’s’ standout was winger Yeferson Soteldo, who scored the game’s first goal and set up the second-half tallies by veteran striker Salomon Rondon and substitute Darwin Machis.

In the last seconds of the first half, Soteldo gave the home crowd something to cheer about by scoring the game’s first goal with a low, angled shot that found the bottom corner.

The Santos winger cut inside from the left and fed Rondon for Venezuela’s second goal, a close-range tally in the 72nd minute.

Again finding space on the left wing, Soteldo crossed for an unmarked Machis to make it 3-0 for Venezuela.

Elsewhere Paraguay defeated lowly Bolivia 1-0 on Tuesday in Asuncion thanks to a goal from Antonio Sanabria in the 69th minute.

Paraguay is in seventh place with three points after four games, while Bolivia is still at the bottom of the table.

Meanwhile in Quito, Colombia remained unblemished in qualifying play with a scoreless draw against Ecuador.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to include 48 countries. Six teams from the 10-team round robin stage will qualify automatically.