Recently, the penultimate round of the South American World Cup qualifiers concluded successfully. With Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Venezuela, the qualification picture for this campaign has become much clearer.
Venezuela Misses Out on Qualification
Before the round began, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador had already secured their places in the 2026 World Cup.
With Venezuela’s defeat away from home, they remain stuck on 18 points, ranking seventh in the table and trailing the sixth-placed team by at least seven points.
With only one round left to play, Venezuela has completely lost the chance to qualify. This result also means that Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia, currently ranked fourth to sixth, have all secured their spots in the World Cup in advance.
Paraguay Returns After 16 Years
Among them, Paraguay’s qualification is particularly eye-catching. The team has returned to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence. Their last appearance was at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where they impressed by reaching the quarterfinals, only to lose 0-1 to eventual champions Spain.
Colombia Bounces Back
Colombia also received good news with their return to the finals. After missing out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup, the team has made a strong comeback.
James Rodríguez (James), who has been in fine form recently, is expected to represent the national team once again. Fans are eager to see him lead “Los Cafeteros” to greater success at next year’s tournament in North America.
Uruguay Shows Consistency
As for Uruguay, this marks their fourth consecutive qualification for the World Cup. Under the guidance of head coach Marcelo Bielsa, the team has demonstrated both strong competitiveness and a distinctive tactical style. They are widely considered one of the most entertaining sides in this qualifying campaign.
Playoff Spot Still in Doubt
According to the format, South America has six direct qualification slots and one intercontinental playoff spot. All six direct berths have now been decided, going to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia.
The final playoff spot will be contested between Venezuela and Bolivia. In the last round, Venezuela will face Colombia, which has already qualified, while Bolivia will take on powerhouse Brazil away from home.
The two sides will battle it out for the final chance to reach the intercontinental playoff.
13 Teams Confirmed for the World Cup
So far, 13 teams have secured their spots at the 2026 World Cup finals (excluding the three host nations: USA, Canada, and Mexico).
Asia has six qualified teams: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. South America also has six: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia. Oceania’s sole representative, New Zealand, has also qualified.
As qualifiers around the world near their conclusion, the lineup for the 2026 World Cup is becoming increasingly apparent.
