Argentina has already secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but behind them, the qualification campaign in CONMEBOL is proving to be incredibly competitive. There are just three points separating Ecuador in second place from Colombia in sixth. While South American qualifiers are always known for their intensity, the current standings are more open than in recent cycles, with traditional powerhouses Brazil and Uruguay currently facing challenges in establishing dominance behind Argentina.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as the new head coach for the Brazilian national team could potentially change dynamics significantly. He faces the task of finding the optimal balance for the squad, but improving the performance of key attackers like Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior would be a major step towards turning Brazil`s fortunes around.
Venezuela is also making a historic push, hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever. Currently positioned seventh in the standings, they would qualify for an intercontinental playoff spot. They hold a narrow one-point lead over Bolivia, a team whose last World Cup appearance was in 1994, also held in the United States.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming round of qualifying matches:
Schedule
Thursday, June 5
- Ecuador vs. Brazil, 7 p.m. ET
- Paraguay vs. Uruguay, 7 p.m. ET
- Chile vs. Argentina, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, June 6
- Colombia vs. Peru, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Venezuela vs. Bolivia, 6 p.m. ET
Tuesday, June 10
- Bolivia vs. Chile, 4 p.m. ET
- Uruguay vs. Venezuela, 7 p.m. ET
- Argentina vs. Colombia, 8 p.m. ET
- Brazil vs. Paraguay, 8:45 p.m. ET
- Peru vs. Ecuador, 9:30 p.m. ET
