Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champions, continue to maintain their strong position in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela. The match marked Lionel Messi’s return from injury, and he played a crucial role in Argentina’s early success. Messi’s free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi for a 13th-minute goal in the Venezuelan city of Maturin. However, Venezuela’s determination paid off in the second half when Salomon Rondon scored a header from Yeferson Soteldo’s cross, leveling the match.
Argentina remains on track for the 2026 World Cup finals, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, the top six teams from South America’s 10-team round-robin qualifiers will advance. Argentina currently leads the standings with 19 points from nine games, three points ahead of Colombia, who suffered a surprising 1-0 loss to Bolivia.
While Argentina appears set for a smooth qualification, Brazil has faced challenges. Chile, positioned near the bottom of the standings, took an early lead with Eduardo Vargas scoring in the second minute. Brazil equalized in first-half stoppage time when Savinho assisted Igor Jesus for a header. The match seemed destined for a draw until Luiz Henrique scored in the 89th minute, securing a 2-1 victory for Brazil. This win places Brazil in fourth with 13 points from nine games.
Bolivia’s 1-0 win over Colombia, held in El Alto, elevated their chances of making their first World Cup appearance since 1994. Miguel Terceros’ individual brilliance in the 58th minute, with a stunning left-footed shot, secured the win. Bolivia, now in sixth place with 12 points, has seen a significant improvement since moving their home qualifiers to the higher-altitude venue of El Alto. Their performance has been strong, including a 4-0 win over Venezuela in September and a 2-1 away victory against Chile last month. Ecuador, who drew 0-0 with Paraguay, are level with Bolivia on points but hold the fifth position in the standings.
