Simply after we have been all getting within the swing of issues EPL and FPL (Fantasy Premier League) sensible, the Worldwide break comes and throws a spanner within the works. If pleasant encounters like Mauritius vs Syria or UEFA Nations League clashes like Lithuania vs Cyprus don’t fairly whet your soccer urge for food, why not set your soccer sights a bit additional afield to South America?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifiers proceed in earnest this week (and subsequent). Whereas UEFA’s World Cup qualifying draw has not but been made, we’ve already reached Matchday 7 of the CONMEBOL qualifiers.
Embed from Getty Photographs
How FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifying Works
All ten nationwide groups from the CONMEBOL confederation entered the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying course of. They’re set to play one another twice in a home-and-away round-robin format, so both sides is locked right into a gruelling 18-game schedule. Eight of the ten CONMEBOL sides have been ranked in FIFA’s world high 50 as of 2023, which is proof of the extremely aggressive nature of the South American qualifying marketing campaign.
The CONMEBOL sides are scrapping for a top-6 spot within the qualifying standings, which earns them an automated berth within the FIFA World Cup 2026 Finals in Canada/USA/Mexico. The crew ending seventh within the CONMEBOL ladder will participate within the Inter-Confederation play-offs, the place two additional sides win locations within the World Cup Finals match.
With so many matches to be accomplished, it’s no shock that the CONMEBOL sides kicked off their qualification course of for the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier than another area/confederation. Earlier than the beginning of CONMEBOL qualifying (Matchday 1 – September 2023), Ecuador have been deducted 3 factors for beforehand supplying false data relating to defender Byron Castillo.
FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifying – The Story So Far
The early 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifying skirmishes (Matchdays 1 & 2) went to script again in early September 2023. Defending World Cup champions Argentina clinched a good 1-0 victory over Ecuador, because of Lionel Messi and adopted that up with a 3-0 stroll in opposition to Bolivia in La Paz.
Brazil, essentially the most profitable World Cup facet in historical past, kicked off their qualifying marketing campaign confidently, brushing apart Bolivia 5-1, with braces from Rodrygo and Neymar. The Samba Boys wanted a last-minute header from PSG legend Marquinhos, although, to take care of their 100% begin versus Peru in Lima 4 days later. The one slight shock throughout these September encounters got here within the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, the place the ‘La Tricolor’ got here from behind with objectives from Felix Torres to seize a 2-1 victory in opposition to Uruguay.
Embed from Getty Photographs
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina Keep Their Successful Streak
2022 FIFA World Cup winners, Argentina, saved their foot on the gasoline a month later, in October 2023, when successful each of their Matchday 3 & 4 video games. Nicolas Otamendi’s Third-minute strike proved sufficient to see off Paraguay in Buenos Aires, and a double on the highway from the Argentine mercurial maestro, Lionel Messi, despatched Peru 2-0 the next week. That victory meant that Argentina had received eight video games on the bounce with out conceding a single objective.
Whereas all was rosy within the Albiceleste’s backyard, cracks have been beginning to seem in Brazil’s qualifying marketing campaign. On the Enviornment Pantanal in Cuiaba, Eduard Bello shocked the locals when snatching a late equaliser for Venezuela versus Fernando Diniz’s Selecao. In Matchday 4 it went from dangerous to worse for Brazil, as Uruguay struck them down in Montevideo with second-half objectives from Darwin Nunez and Nicolas de la Cruz. It was Brazil’s first World Cup qualifying loss since Chile beat them 2-0 in Santiago in 2015. Elsewhere, Colombia maintained its unbeaten begin in CONMEBOL qualifying with attracts in opposition to Uruguay and Ecuador.
Brazil’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying Woes Intensify
Brazil followers had thought (and hoped) that the defeat in Montevideo was only a minor blip, however additional heartache awaited the Verde-Amarelas in November 2023. Regardless of a quick begin and strike by Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli in Barranquilla throughout Matchday 5, Colombia hit again emphatically late with two objectives from Luis Diaz. It was a extremely emotional second for the Liverpool winger, whose father had been kidnapped just a few weeks earlier. Colombia maintained their wonderful undefeated run 5 days later, with a 1-0 victory in opposition to Paraguay in Asuncion.
Following back-to-back World Cup qualifying defeats, a cautious Brazil entertained Argentina on the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro for his or her Matchday 6 conflict on November twenty first. Argentina had suffered a setback the earlier week, conceding its first objective because the 2022 World Cup Remaining in a 2-0 loss on dwelling turf to Uruguay. In a good affair, Benfica’s centre-back, Otamendi, proved to be Argentina’s saviour, not for the primary time through the qualifying marketing campaign, as he grabbed the sport’s solely objective within the second half.
Brazil’s third loss on the trot and their first-ever dwelling defeat in a World Cup qualifier amazingly noticed them drop to sixth within the qualifying standings. It was the primary time the nation had misplaced three successive matches since 2001. Not surprisingly, it dropped at an finish Fernando Diniz’s caretaker reign within the Brazilian sizzling seat, with Sao Paulo boss Dorival Junior taking on the reins.
Embed from Getty Photographs
FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifying – Newest Standings
FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifying – High Goalscorers
5 goalsDarwin Nunez (Uruguay)
3 goalsLionel Messi (Argentina)Nicolas de la Cruz (Uruguay)
2 goalsFelix Torres (Ecuador)Luis DÃaz (Colombia)Neymar (Brazil)Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina)Rafael Santos Borre (Colombia)Rodrygo (Brazil)Salomon Rondon (Venezuela)
Embed from Getty Photographs
FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifying – Matchdays 7 & 8
After a 10-month break, the CONMEBOL confederation sides return to FIFA World Cup qualifying motion this week. Fortunately for Brazil, with over two-thirds of the qualifying marketing campaign remaining, there’s nonetheless all to play for. Brazil faces upcoming encounters in opposition to sides at the moment sitting instantly above and under them within the CONMEBOL qualifying ladder.
The Selecao can be counting their blessings that Ecuador was docked these 3 factors previous to qualifying beginning, because it means ‘La Tri’ are only one level above them as an alternative of 4. Following Friday’s dwelling tie in Curitiba, Brazil heads to Asuncion on Tuesday to tackle a rock-solid Paraguay facet that solely conceded 3 objectives of their opening six qualifiers.
It’s a tricky 5 days for Paraguay on the entire, as earlier than entertaining Brazil, they have to tackle Uruguay in Montevideo, who sit second within the qualifying desk. La Celeste scored two or extra objectives in 5 of their first six qualifiers. Like Uruguay, table-toppers Argentina additionally resume their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign on dwelling turf in Matchday 7. They’ll be hoping to wrap up a stress-free win in opposition to Chile, who failed to attain of their final three qualifiers, earlier than heading to Barranquilla to tackle Colombia, which is a rematch of July’s Copa America 2024 Remaining.
Colombia Trying To Proceed Their Wealthy Vein Of Type
Though it was a bitter capsule to swallow for Colombia, being crushed by Argentina within the Copa America Remaining, they solely capitulated in additional time after a goalless 90 minutes. The Colombians haven’t misplaced a sport in regular time since shedding to Argentina (once more) in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Cordoba in February 2022. Amazingly, that’s a run of 29 matches, and Nestor Lorenzo’s males stay the one undefeated facet throughout this present World Cup CONMEBOL qualifying marketing campaign.
On the different finish of the shape scale, Peru stays the one facet but to style victory throughout this World Cup qualifying run. They failed to seek out the again of the online in any of their opening 5 qualifiers in order that they may have taken some coronary heart from their 1-1 dwelling draw with Venezuela throughout Matchday 6 final November. Nonetheless, La Rojiblanca now has robust back-to-back encounters with sides within the high half of the standings, Colombia at dwelling, adopted by a visit to Ecuador.
Embed from Getty Photographs
FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifying – The place To Watch & Guess
The next upcoming matches could be considered stay within the UK on Premier Sports activities:Argentina v Chile (Friday 01:00)Brazil v Ecuador (Saturday 02:00)Ecuador v Peru (Tuesday 22:00)
Try all the most recent FIFA World Cup markets, together with qualifying matches.
LATEST FROM THE OLYMPICS – CAN THIERRY HENRY’S FRANCE GRAB GOLD?THE U19 EUROS – THE YOUNG STARS AIMING HIGHTHE OLYMPIC GAMES – A RUNDOWN OF THE GOLDEN GREATSMARK CAVENDISH AIMS TO BREAK THE TOUR DE FRANCE RECORDEUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – HOST NATION HEROICSCOPA AMERICA 2024 – ARGENTINA & MESSI GO TROPHY-CHASING AGAINEUROPEAN FOOTBALL’S MANAGERIAL MAESTROS  GIRO D’ITALIA PREVIEW – WILL POGACAR PEDAL TO VICTORY?
