09/11/2023
After securing solid victories on the first day, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia will defend their lead in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on the second day on Tuesday, a crucial moment for the group of teams they are chasing.
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In the extensive Conmebol qualifying round, which ends in mid-September 2025, Brazil, Uruguay, world champions Argentina and Colombia are at the top of the table with 3 points. Paraguay and Peru follow with 1, while Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador were the casualties at the first whistle.
South America has six straight spots for the World Cup, organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the seventh-placed team will play a playoff against a team from another continent. In short, there are two more tickets in dispute than in the previous rounds before the World Cup.
1. A historic Neymar against Peru
The “10” Neymar, 31, had an unforgettable moment against Bolivia on Friday, overtaking “O Rei” Pelé in the table of the Canarinha’s top scorers and now sits at the top of the list with 79 goals, two more than that deceased world football idol.
“Ney” was at the heart of an overwhelming Brazil (5-1) against La Verde, in the hopeful debut of Fernando Diniz, the Fluminense coach, as interim of the five-time world champion team until the Italian Carlo Ancelotti ends his contract with Real Madrid in mid-2024 Take over the reins.
Brazil’s attractive offensive proposal, which has been called “Dinicism” in this country, with a more than current Neymar and confident in his role as leader of the team, will face a greater test of resistance on Tuesday during the visit to Peru.
In Peru, however, the optimism surrounding Juan Reynoso’s team is quite lukewarm, even more so after the 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Ciudad del Este, where Pedro Gallese scored to prevent tragedy.
“We missed it and we still need it. We always have to improve.” It was so clear for Paolo Guerrero, the historic 39-year-old Peruvian shooter, on whom Peru can draw on his talent and experience, since there is no convincing generational successor in this and other positions.
2. Messi starts in La Paz?
Bolivia’s luck couldn’t have been worse heading into the 2026 World Cup. First, Brazil threw him to the canvas five times – and he was saved from an even worse evil – and now world champion Argentina awaits him, whom he will welcome at 3,650 m above sea level in La Paz.
And even if height is a factor for La Verde, as it has been on other occasions, the football reality of the team led by Argentine Gustavo Costas is very poor.
Scaloni and his coaching staff are aware of this and are therefore considering resting several of their regular players.
It is unknown whether star Lionel Messi, who scored in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Ecuador and requested a substitution due to fatigue three minutes before the end of the game at the Monumental, will start or start on the bench.
Scaloni faces this dilemma as Messi has played a series of 12 games (11 with Inter Miami, 1 with Argentina) in 49 days after his debut on July 21 with the Herons.
At 36 years old, it would not be logical to subject the Albiceleste captain to a 90-minute grind in La Paz, but it is well known in the world of football that the winner of seven Ballon d’Ors always wants to play and in his lexicon word “does not exist” rest”.
3. Ecuador measures Uruguay’s model Bielsa
The 3-1 defeat against Chile in the Centenario with a team led by Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) and Nicolás de la Cruz (River Plate) gave Uruguayan fans hope of qualifying for the World Cup again.
And this illusion becomes even more important considering that the victory, in which traces of the style of football promoted by Bielsa were evident, was achieved without the presence of its two historic and experienced goalscorers Luis Suárez and Édinson Cavani, who were not present in the first game Officials from the Argentine coach were there.
Chile was completely overtaken by Uruguay, but Ecuador will experience the true reality of the Celeste when they meet in Quito, where the 2,850m altitude brings back bitter memories for the Charrúas.
Ecuador left Buenos Aires empty-handed, but the mood is good in the team of Spaniard Félix Sánchez, who retained much of the tricolor that played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Those from the middle of the world do not have the scope to allow themselves further defeats, as they have started the pressure of three points less due to the sanction imposed by the TAS for the inadmissible inclusion of the winger Byron Castillo in the World Cup dispute Qualifying round.
4. Chile and an unpleasant visit
Colombia, also among the league leaders thanks to its 1-0 win over Venezuela in Barranquilla, arrives in Santiago looking to heal La Roja’s wound.
The Coffee Growers suffered a 2-2 draw against Chile on the road to Qatar 2022, and given the new results of the first round of North American World Cup qualifying, Colombia would not be far from leaving Santiago with a lead in their hands.
Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo opted for a mix of old friends like James Rodríguez, Juan Cuadrado and Yerry Mina and young talents like Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Jhon Arias (Fluminense) and Jorge Carrascal (Dinamo Moscow). And the win against Vinontino was the reward for this merger.
Chile, on the other hand, showed a worrying face in Montevideo, still protected by the remnants of a golden generation, creator of the 2015 and 2016 Copa America titles, which cannot be replaced.
5. Venezuela-Paraguay to recover
Paraguay’s goalless draw with Peru is a good starting point for twin Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side, considering they had Peru in trouble in Ciudad del Este until goalkeeper Gallese became the figure of the game.
The only thing missing was the goal and now he has to look for it in Maturín during his visit to Venezuela.
La Vinotinto will appear with a defeat in Colombia, where the presentation was acceptable despite the result. Now he has the opportunity to boost hopes of qualifying for a senior World Cup for the first time.
– THE GAMES OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE CONMEBOL ELIMINATORY
Bolivia vs. Argentina, 2 p.m
There is no transmission in Honduras.
Ecuador vs. Uruguay, 3:00 p.m
Broadcast: Tigo Sports
Venezuela vs. Paraguay, 4 p.m
Broadcast: Tigo Sports
Chile vs. Colombia, 6:30 p.m
Broadcast: Tigo Sports
Peru vs. Brazil, 8 p.m
Broadcast: Tigo Sports
