In a dramatic turn of events during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American qualifiers, Bolivia secured a crucial victory against football giants Brazil, earning them a coveted spot in the inter-confederation play-offs. This pivotal result, however, extinguished Venezuela’s hopes of reaching the global football spectacle, leaving their fans disappointed.
Bolivia’s hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Brazil on home soil proved to be a decisive moment in their campaign. This victory added three crucial points to Bolivia’s tally, moving them to 20 points from 18 matches in the qualifiers, and most importantly, securing them the inter-confederation playoff spot. This achievement marks a significant step for Bolivia, keeping alive their dream of participating in their first World Cup in decades.
Conversely, Venezuela’s hopes were tragically cut short following a heavy 6-3 defeat to Colombia in their final qualifier. This result was particularly devastating for Venezuela, as it eliminated them from the race for the crucial playoff position, ending their bid for a maiden World Cup appearance.
Meanwhile, defending World Cup champions Argentina successfully booked their direct ticket to the 2026 tournament. Despite the absence of star captain Lionel Messi, the Albiceleste played out a 1-1 draw against Ecuador, ensuring their place at the top of the CONMEBOL qualifying standings with an impressive 38 points. Ecuador finished a strong second, accumulating 29 points from their campaign.
Elsewhere in the intense qualifying campaign, Chile’s aspirations were dashed after a goalless 0-0 draw against Uruguay. This result meant Chile secured only one point, ultimately leaving them in ninth place with 12 points and out of contention for a World Cup berth. Peru, despite a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in their final match, finished at the bottom of the table with 11 points. However, Paraguay secured a direct qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.
As a result of their successful campaign, Bolivia will now compete in the inter-confederation playoffs. Here, they will face a single opponent from one of the other continental confederations – CONCACAF, Africa, Asia, or Oceania – in a bid to claim one of the final remaining berths for the 2026 World Cup. A total of six South American nations have directly qualified for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These direct qualifiers include Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay, all of whom have secured their places in football’s most prestigious tournament.
