Colombia’s Luis Diaz (L) is challenged by Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez in Barranquilla, Colombia, on … [+]
The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign is now well under way in South America. The CONMEBOL leaderboard is starting to take shape with the continent’s two most valuable sides Argentina and Brazil out in front with maximum points.
At the other end of the table Bolivia; the team with the least valuable squad in South America, are the only one yet to register a point. Ecuador also appear on zero points as their home win to Uruguay was cancelled out by a three point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in the last campaign.
However all of that can change this week, starting with matchday 3:
Colombia V Uruguay
Colombia and Uruguay are hot favourites to seal two of the six automatic qualifying spots for the 2026 World Cup. Both sides earned vital home wins during last month’s international break but as is generally the case in South America both also failed to get a win on the road.
The baking sun of Barranquilla will be a test for Uruguay who will also have one eye on an upcoming home clash against Brazil. Although they did win 3-0 on their last visit to Colombia’s northern coast in 2020. Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani scored that day but are not in the current squad.
Colombia are one of three unbeaten sides in South America so far, and Argentina are the only other nation yet to concede a goal. Colombia also defeated Japan, Iraq and Germany in the three games leading up to this qualification campaign.
Uruguay were unbeaten in six until they visited Ecuador last month, another team who are a shoe-in for qualification. They won’t be too phased though. The future looks bright under new manager Marcelo Bielsa and the ‘Celeste’ have a talented young squad.
Bolivia V Ecuador
As mentioned, Bolivia are rock-bottom of the table after two games and they don’t seem to have any star players that can dig them out of that hole.
Forward Victor Abrego scored a brilliant goal in Brazil as they were defeated 5-1 in their opening fixture, but they are going to need a lot more than that. They have lost 11 of their last 13 international games with their only victory coming in a friendly against Saudi Arabia.
Bolivia should have a massive home advantage because of the altitude in La Paz but as of late that hasn’t been so apparent. Ecuador are the team who should be least perturbed by this advantage too. Their home games in Quito are played 2800 metres above sea level.
Ecuador looked impressive last time out against Uruguay, they have won four of their last five games and they have a far superior football team to Bolivia.
Argentina V Paraguay
The World Champions will host Paraguay at the biggest football stadium in South America this Thursday night. Both countries have just been announced as hosts of some of the FIFA 2030 World Cup opening games too, so there will be plenty of excitement around the Estadio Mâs Monumental.
Lionel Messi has returned to fitness just in time to face a nation he has scored against on five occasions. The Argentine talisman played around 35 minutes of football for Inter Miami in their last game after a few weeks sidelined with injury.
Paraguay will go to Buenos Aires with nothing to lose. They have just 16 wins in 110 games against Argentina but the last of those victories came on Argentinian soil in 2016 against the likes of Paulo Dybala and Ángel Di María. Paraguay have only conceded three times to Argentina in their last six meetings so this one could be a cagey affair.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (C) drives the ball next to Paraguay’s Angel Romero (R) at La Bombonera … [+]
Chile V Peru
Chile and Peru are two teams that will be battling it out for the last automatic qualification place in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Both sides have seen better days in recent years. Peru reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia and Chile of course were twice continental Champions and regulars on the World stage very recently. However at the moment, Peru have managed just one win in six games and Chile have just three victories in their last 15. Yikes.
In the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign both teams won this fixture 2-0 at home. Chile are favourites as the home team for this one then, where last time out they drew 0-0 with a strong Colombia side.
Not only did Peru fail to score a goal in their opening two qualifying fixtures, they also failed to manage a single shot on target.
Brazil V Venezuela
Venezuela will be buzzing after a home win against Paraguay on matchday two however giants Brazil will likely bring them crashing back down to earth in the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá this Thursday.
The hosts romped to a home victory against Bolivia last month and also won away in Peru. They will be confident of making it three on the bounce when Venezuela come to town; a team that hasn’t managed to beat them since way back in June 2008 in an international friendly.
Brazil will be more concerned about their matchday four visit to Uruguay where they will be met with a raucous Montevideo welcome.
Venezuela are already overachieving thanks to their last win. They will try and keep Brazil at bay for as long as possible but the star quality of the hosts will surely prove too much over 90 minutes.
Neymar Jr. of Brazil kicks a penalty to score the second goal of his team during a Group B match … [+]
