Uruguay and Paraguay are a whisker away from joining Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup 26™. Victory would also qualify Colombia. Venezuela and Bolivia are dreaming of automatic qualification but aware they could miss out on the FIFA Play-Off Tournament slot, which is Peru’s only hope.
With established icons Julian Alvarez, Moises Caicedo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Luis Diaz, Lionel Messi, Raphinha, Richarlison and James Rodriguez, and whizzkids Estevao, Franco Mastantuono and Kendry Paez on duty, entertainment is guaranteed on Matchday 17 of the South American preliminaires.
Fixtures
Thursday 4 September
Colombia v Bolivia
Uruguay v Peru
Argentina v Venezuela
Paraguay v Ecuador
Brazil v Chile
Standings
1st) Argentina – 35 points
2nd) Ecuador – 25
3rd) Brazil – 25
4th) Uruguay – 24
5th) Paraguay – 24
6th) Colombia – 22
7th) Venezuela – 18
8th) Bolivia – 17
9th) Peru – 12
10th) Chile – 10
Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil have already secured FIFA World Cup 26™ places. Another three nations will earn automatic qualification. The seventh-placed team will enter the FIFA Play-off Tournament, where six sides will compete for the last two tickets to the global finals.
Colombia v Bolivia
Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla
A draw may be enough for Colombia. A win would be. Nestor Lorenzo has elite performers Richard Rios, James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias, Luis Diaz and Jhon Duran at his disposal. Oscar Villegas’s Bolivia must win to keep their automatic-qualification chances alive. Miguel Terceros, who scored the only goal in the sides’ first meeting this campaign, will be central to La Verde triumphing in Colombia for the first time in 31 years.
Last 10 meetings
7 Colombia wins, 2 draws, 1 Bolivia win
Uruguay v Peru
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Uruguay know a point will get them to their fifth straight global finals, but they must attempt to get it without key performers Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez. Marcelo Bielsa will charge Maxi Araujo, De Arrascaeta and Facundo Pellistri with providing inspiration. Peru must win – and hope Venezuela and Bolivia don’t – to retain hope of reaching the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. Worryingly for La Blanquirroja, they haven’t triumphed in Uruguay since Nolberto Solano, Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan secured a 3-1 win 21 years ago. Can Renato Tapia, Luis Advincula, Andy Polo and Co lead Oscar Ibanez’s side, who have conceded only three goals in their last six outings, to a famous scalp?
Last 10 meetings
5 Uruguay wins, 3 Peru wins, 2 draws
Argentina v Venezuela
El Monumental, Buenos Aires
Fernando Batista will task Jefferson Savarino, Yeferson Soteldo and Salomon Rondon with pulling off what would probably rank as the greatest victory in Venezuela’s history. Unfortunately for them, despite having secured qualification and top spot, Lionel Scaloni named a formidable Argentina squad headlined by Enzo Fernandez, Alvarez and Messi. Young jewels Valentin Carboni, Claudio Echeverri, Mastantuono and Nico Paz will also hope to impress as the fight for World Cup 26 places hots up.
Last 10 meetings
5 Argentina wins, 3 draws, 2 Venezuela wins
Paraguay v Ecuador
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asuncion
Paraguay’s remarkable unbeaten streak under Gustavo Alfaro ended in a 1-0 loss in Brazil last time out. Gustavo Gomez, Miguel Almiron and Tony Sanabria will look to rebound – and pocket the point they require to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 – against Ecuador. Sebastian Beccacece’s Tricolor are already through, but remain determined to emulate their achievement from the Korea/Japan 2002 preliminaries, when Ivan Hurtado, Alex Aguinaga, Agustin Delgado and Ivan Kaviedes helped them finish second, above Brazil.
Last 10 meetings
4 Paraguay wins, 4 draws, 2 Ecuador wins
Brazil v Chile
Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
In the absence of Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, attackers Estevao, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Kaio Jorge, Luiz Henrique, Richarlison and Samuel Lino will hope to stake a claim for a regular starting berth for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. Chile can no longer reach the North American extravaganza, but they are determined to avoid finishing bottom of the South American standings for the second time ever. Interim coach Nicolas Cordova left out Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, but has a match-winner at his disposal in 21-year-old Dario Osorio.
Last 10 meetings
8 Brazil wins, 1 Chile win, 1 draw
World Cup participations
Brazil (22)
Argentina (18)
Uruguay (14)
Chile (9)
Paraguay (8)
Colombia (6)
Peru (5)
Ecuador (4)
Bolivia (3)
Venezuela (0)
Best World Cup finish
Brazil: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 & 2002)
Argentina: Champions (1978, 1986 & 2022)
Uruguay: Champions (1930 & 1950)
Chile: Third place (1962)
Peru: Quarter-finals (1970 & 1978)
Colombia: Quarter-finals (2014)
Paraguay: Quarter-finals (2010)
Ecuador: Last 16 (2006)
Bolivia: Group stage (1930, 1950 & 1994)
