Wednesday, June 11

With three gameweeks remaining in CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying, Sports Mole takes a look at the story so far in South America.

After 16 rounds of matches in CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying, the race to reach the finals being held across the USA, Mexico and Canada is almost over, with the six automatic qualifiers all but decided.

South America's finest and World Champions Argentina have shown their class across qualifying, becoming the first CONMEBOL nation to book their ticket at the finals with two wins in March's fixtures, and most of the usual suspects behind them are on course to join them, with Brazil and Ecuador booking their spot in June.

The two usual whipping boys of Bolivia and Venezuela are still battling intensely to claim the intercontinental playoff spot, though the latter have taken the upper hand after a 2-0 win in their June meeting, while Chile have been eliminated.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the current state of play in South America, looking at the standings and some of the most notable results so far.

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CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings

© PA PhotosUPCOMING FIXTURES (all kickoffs in UK time)

Colombia vs. Bolivia (3 September | Location and Kickoff TBC)

Uruguay vs. Peru (3 September | Location and Kickoff TBC)

Argentina vs. Venezuela (3 September | Location and Kickoff TBC)

Brazil vs. Chile (3 September | Location and Kickoff TBC)

Paraguay vs. Ecuador (3 September | Location and Kickoff TBC)

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The story of CONMEBOL qualifying so far

With just two matchdays remaining, the six nations which will qualify automatically already look set in stone, with Argentina, Ecuador and Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil safely through.

World Cup ever-presents Brazil recovered from a disastrous start to qualifying, with Ancelotti coming in and taking four points from their games with Ecuador and Paraguay to make sure of their spot at the finals, recovering well from a 4-1 defeat to Argentina in March.

Ecuador have been the overachievers, shrugging aside a three-point deduction to remain second after another pair of 0-0 draws, following a goalless encounter with Chile in March.

Uruguay and Paraguay both registered wins at home in June, and that leaves them six points clear of Venezuela in seventh with just two games remaining, with a healthy goal difference also going in both of their favours.

It was another bad month for Colombia, who could only draw at home to a poor Peru side, before conceding late on to drop two points against 10-man Argentina, meaning Venezuela could still catch Nestor Lorenzo's men with the gap sitting at four points.

However, Venezuela still have to go away to Argentina, so a defeat there on matchday 17 with end any hopes of finishing in the top six, regardless of how Colombia get on, so their focus may switch to keeping Bolivia at arm's length, with La Verde only one point back in the race for the playoff place.

Chile's elimination was confirmed with defeat in Bolivia on matchday 16, and after two 0-0 draws this month, a Peru side that have scored just six goals in their 16 qualifiers need two wins in their final two to have any chance, and even then, it looks unlikely they will sneak into seventh.

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Key CONMEBOL qualifying results so far

Brazil 1-1 Venezuela (October 2023, Matchday 3)

Perhaps the most damning indictment of Brazil's early precarious situation was a home draw with Venezuela, a team they had only failed to beat once in their history, while it also kick-started a good run of form for Venezuela, who may look back at the end of the campaign at the significance of that point if they are able to reach the finals for the first time.

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Argentina 0-2 Uruguay (November 2023, Matchday 5)

The first indication that Bielsa's side could be a threat at the finals in 2026 should they qualify as expected, beating the World Champions on their home patch, moving them clear in the automatic qualifying positions.

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Brazil 0-1 Argentina (November 2023, Matchday 6)

Brazil's campaign went from bad to worse as they suffered their first ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, and it was against their arch rivals, as Argentina recovered from that slip-up against Uruguay to keep a hold of top spot in the standings.

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Colombia 2-1 Argentina (September 2024, Matchday 8)

This was not a damaging defeat for Argentina as they have gone on to reach the finals, but the result was huge for Colombia, who have since suffered a severe drop in form with these three points potentially being crucial in their quest to return to the World Cup after missing out in 2022, while also avenging their Copa America final loss from the summer.

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Bolivia 1-0 Colombia (October 2024, Matchday 9)

After a 4-0 win over Venezuela in their first game at their new home ground in El Alto, Bolivia proved that every away side will have difficulty at the suffocating altitude here, instantly boosting their chances of a first finals appearance in 32 years, as they were able to beat second-placed Colombia 1-0 despite playing with 10 men for 70 minutes, with some of the visiting players requiring oxygen to continue midway through the game.

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Argentina 4-1 Brazil (March 2025, Matchday 13)

This result not only sealed Argentina's place at the finals, it was also a statement of intent from the reigning world champions, and a damning indictment of where Brazil are currently at, as they were utterly outclassed and outfought by Lionel Scaloni's men, who now sit 10 points above them in the standings.

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Venezuela 2-0 Bolivia (June 2025, Matchday 15)

After a 4-0 defeat to Bolivia in the reverse fixture in September, Venezuela were out for revenge as they returned home to the Monumental de Maturin, and the hosts did exactly that, securing a crucial 2-0 victory that extended their gap to eighth-placed Bolivia to four points and massively boosted their chances of reaching the playoffs.

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