Following Thursday night’s matches, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay have all qualified for next summer’s World Cup. They join Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador who qualified earlier this year. As things stand, the only open spot for CONMEBOL at the moment is the inter-confederation play-off spot.
Uruguay’s Win Eliminates Peru
In Montevideo, Uruguay defeated Peru 3–0, a result that not only secured qualification for Uruguay but also eliminated Peru, who needed to win their last two matches to have any chance of securing the inter-confederation play-off spot. It was a great performance on both ends, with La Celeste not conceding a goal in three of their last four games.
Colombia Wins Big To Secure World Cup Spot
In Barranquilla, Colombia defeated Bolivia 3–0 and sealed its qualification. Captain James Rodríguez opened the scoring in the 31st minute, showcasing his continued importance and impact at the national level. In the second half, John Córdoba and Juan Quintero extended the lead to secure the three points
With this victory, the Colombian national team heads to the World Cup with confidence and momentum, a great turn in direction after missing out on Qatar 2022.
Paraguay Draw But It’s Enough
Paraguay drew 0–0 at home versus Ecuador and got the last point needed to secure its place in the upcoming World Cup. While the team’s offensive performance remains a pending issue, the team’s defensive solidity and tactical discipline were enough to clinch qualification. After 16 years, Paraguay will be returning to the biggest stage in world football.
Just One Potential World Cup Spot Left
With the World Cup expansion, the team who finishes in 7th enters the inter-confederation playoff. Filling in that spot and representing CONMEBOL this year will be either Venezuela or Bolivia. Venezuela (18 points) will face Colombia at home, while Bolivia (17 points) will host Brazil.
Check out the Fútbol Mundial World Cup qualification update in Spanish
