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World Cup enlargement has taken the sting off many South American qualifiers. With 14 of 18 rounds performed, all the large boys appear to be protected. Argentina clinched qualification Tuesday. Brazil and others may comply with in June.
However their locations on the 2026 get together aren’t fairly locked up. And under them, two nations who’ve by no means received a males’s World Cup sport, Venezuela and Bolivia, are combating for an opportunity to make historical past.
CONMEBOL World Cup berths: 6 (plus 1 intercontinental playoff berth)
World Cup qualifying format: Easy. Ten groups, in a single desk, play each other dwelling and away. The highest six qualify for the World Cup. Seventh place earns a journey to the intercontinental playoff.
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Certified: ArgentinaConfident: Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, ParaguayBubble: Venezuela, BoliviaLong pictures: Chile, PeruEliminated: None
Winner: Paraguay — What a window for La Albirroja! Paraguay took 4 factors, together with one on the street in Colombia, and leapt into fifth place. Now, solely a calamitous closing stretch — and an unforeseeable cost from Bolivia or Venezuela — may deny Paraguay a spot in 2026.
Loser: Colombia — They will in all probability nonetheless qualify. However a heartbreaking loss in Brazil — to a 99th-minute Vinicius Jr. winner — and a blown lead at dwelling to Paraguay have left Los Cafeteros solely 5 factors away from the intercontinental playoff spot.
Winner: Venezuela — A decent, tense 1-0 win over Peru was sufficient to raise La Vinotinto into seventh place. In the event that they beat Bolivia on Matchday 15 at dwelling — which they will be favored to do — they will have a four-point cushion.
