Colombia and Argentina kick clear

2026-04-16

The battle for CONMEBOL qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ is turning out to be as tense and tightly fought as was expected heading into the campaign.

After the completion of the sixth matchday, Argentina and Colombia have opened up a five-point gap on the chasing pack in the race for the region’s two direct berths. With two further slots potentially available via the Play-Off Tournament, things are though very tightly congested with only two points separating fourth-placed Chile and eighth-placed Uruguay.

Peru 1-1 Paraguay

Peru goal: Luz Campoverde (51)
Paraguay goal: Yomira Tacilla (18 og)

Peru and Paraguay came into this clash off the back of banking maximum points in their previous outings (against Uruguay and Ecuador, respectively), and knowing that another win would propel them further up the standings.

However, goals in either half saw the points split in Cusco. The visitors took the lead with a first-half own goal by Yomira Tacilla, who failed to deal with a teasing Lice Chamorro cross.

In the second half, Luz Campoverde collected the ball inside the box, brushed off a challenge and swept past goalkeeper Alicia Bobadilla to secure a point for the hosts.

Bolivia 1-2 Uruguay

Bolivia goal: Cielo Arteaga (78)
Uruguay goals: Esperanza Pizarro (61, 87)

Uruguay secured a crucial victory in their qualification quest off the back of an Esperanza Pizarro brace in El Alto. The Eibar forward turned home Wendy Caraballo’s cross just after the hour to hand Uruguay the lead before the hosts struck back 12 minutes from time as Cielo Arteaga nodded home from close range after a deep free-kick.

With just three regulation minutes remaining, Pizarro struck again, racing free down the left and poking home after Bolivia had failed to deal with her initial cross.

Venezuela 1-2 Argentina

Venezuela goal: Barbara Olivieri (86)
Argentina goals: Agostina Holzheier (7), Maria Florencia Bonsegundo (57)

In a crucial clash between two leading qualification contenders, German Portanova’s Argentina secured a crucial victory in Cabudare just days after an impressive win on the road in Chile.

Agostina Holzheier opened the scoring with a well-placed shot into the far corner after capitalising on a poor Venezuela clearance to send the visitors to the break a goal to the good. Four days ago, Florencia Bonsegundo was Argentina’s match-winner from the penalty spot against Chile and here she struck from open play, racing through on goal, befuddling goalkeeper and defender and sweeping into an unguarded goal.

Barbara Olivieri pulled one back for Venezuela but it wasn’t enough for a Vinotinto side that are now five points off the direct qualification berths.

Colombia 2-0 Chile

Colombia goals: Linda Caicedo (14), Manuela Vanegas (90 pen)

In Cali, goals early in the first half and late in the second saw Colombia ease to a 2-0 win over Chile to move five points clear, alongside Argentina, at the head of the CONMEBOL standings.

A fine solo effort from star Linda Caicedo set the hosts on their way before a late Manuela Vanegas penalty confirmed the win; the fourth in five matches from an impressive looking Colombian outfit.