Matchday 15 - Table

 

1. Argentina 15/18 (+19) 34

2. Ecuador 15/18 (+8) 24

3. Paraguay 15/18 (+4) 24

4. Brazil 15/18 (+4) 22

5. Uruguay 15/18 (+5) 21

6. Colombia 15/18 (+4) 21

7. Venezuela 15/18 (-2) 18

8. Bolivia 15/18 (-18) 14

9. Peru 15/18 (-11) 11

10. Chile 15/18 (-13) 10

 

 

As it stands, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia would qualify for the World Cup and Venezuela would head to the Inter-Continental Play-Offs.

 

Ecuador and Paraguay have now booked at least a play-off spot but can guarantee direct qualification on Tuesday

Colombia are now winless in 5 and both them and Uruguay will be nervously looking over their shoulder at Venezuela. Tuesday's tie between Uruguay and Venezuela is massive.

Ooh that's a hard one to pick a team to support - historically I've always beeen a massive fan of Uruguay but very much here for Venezuela making it in as the only team to not have qualified before!

I'm happy for Bolivia, who has at least been competitive this go around. They haven't been in the same class as the other nine CONMEBOL nations in several years now.

An probable first World Cup in 16 years for Paraguay?

Paraguay is always that one South American country that is going to steal some surprising points, especially on away games where they're unfavored going in. However, they're usually inconsistent in the matches they should do better in, but this time they're putting it all together more.

Also, Paraguay and Ecuador have the toughest venues to play at for a visiting team. La Paz and Quito, which their elevation make it a brutal match if you're not used to that environment. Few places in the world have the home field advantage they do.

Edited June 10, 20251 yr by DJHazey

All for Venezuela to make an World Cup debut.

I'd be for it too, but consider their remaining schedule:

at Uruguay

at Argentina

hosting Colombia.

They'll be fortunate to get 3-4 points from that. Likely as low as 1 point total.

Matchday 16

Bolivia 2-0 Chile

Uruguay 2-0 Venezuela

Argentina 1-1 Colombia

Brazil 1-0 Paraguay

Peru 0-0 Ecuador

Matchday 16 - Table

 

1. Argentina 16/18 (+19) 35

2. Ecuador 16/18 (+8) 25

3. Brazil 16/18 (+5) 25

4. Uruguay 16/18 (+7) 24

5. Paraguay 16/18 (+3) 24

6. Colombia 16/18 (+4) 22

7. Venezuela 16/18 (-4) 18

8. Bolivia 16/18 (-16) 17

9. Peru 16/18 (-11) 12

10. Chile 16/18 (-15) 10

 

 

As it stands, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia would qualify for the World Cup and Venezuela would head to the Inter-Continental Play-Offs.

 

Ecuador and Brazil book their places in this window while Chile are officially eliminated.

Chile have had quite the fall from Grace!

@Steve201

They certainly considering that there were an hitting the crossbar away from beating Brazil in the 2014 World Cup.

Argentina:

Appearances: 19

Best: Winners 1978, 1986, 2022

Ecuador:

Appearances: 5

Best: Round of 16 (2006)

Brazil:

Appearances: 23

Best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

Final matches in September for South America

Argentina, Ecuador, and Brazil have all qualified, so it will be interesting to see how they play these final matches.

It looks like Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia will also qualify unless they fall apart in these final two matches.

The battle for Intercontinental Tournament will be between Venezuela and Bolivia, so their matches will be key.

9/4 - Uruguay vs. Peru [Montevideo]

9/4 - Colombia vs. Bolivia [Barranquilla]

9/4 - Paraguay vs. Ecuador [Asuncion]

9/4 - Argentina vs. Venezuela [Buenos Aires]

9/4 - Brazil vs. Chile [Rio de Janeiro]

9/9 - Ecuador vs. Argentina [Guayaquil]

9/9 - Peru vs. Paraguay [Lima]

9/9 - Venezuela vs. Colombia [Maturin]

9/9 - Bolivia vs. Brazil [El Alto]

9/9 - Chile vs. Uruguay [Santiago]

Both Bolivia and Venezuela have brutal matches. It will be hard to see either one grab a point on the road, so it'll probably come down to their final match, both matches are at home. What is interesting is how Bolivia have changed their home matches to El Alto in 2026 qualifying. It is highest altitude for a major city in the world. They will be relying on that factor as they try to get a historic victory vs, Brazil to give them a chance in the battle with Venezuela.

Add Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay to the World Cup! Paraguay's first appearance in 16 years.

Now the automatic qualifiers are done, the only thing up for grabs is the intercontinental playoff. Venezuela has 18 points and Bolivia has 17 points. Both have what could be tough home games, but their opponents (Colombia and Brazil) have already qualified and would only have pride and the idea of being a villain on the line. The only way Bolivia moves past Venezuela is if they win and Venezuela does not win. Any scenario where they both end up with the same points will go to Venezuela with them being up by 12 right now in goal differential.

Matchday 17

Argentina 3-0 Venezuela

Colombia 3-0 Bolivia

Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador

Uruguay 3-0 Peru

Brazil 3-0 Chile

Matchday 17 - Table

 

1. Argentina 17/18 (+22) 38

2. Brazil 17/18 (+8) 28

3. Uruguay 17/18 (+10) 27

4. Ecuador 17/18 (+8) 26

5. Colombia 17/18 (+7) 25

6. Paraguay 17/18 (+3) 25

7. Venezuela 17/18 (-7) 18

8. Bolivia 17/18 (-19) 17

9. Peru 17/18 (-14) 12

10. Chile 17/18 (-18) 10

 

 

As it stands, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, and Paraguay have all qualified for the World Cup and Venezuela are heading to the Inter-Continental Play-Offs.

 

It's Venezuela vs Bolivia for the play-off spot as Peru are officially eliminated.

Matchday 18

Ecuador 1-0 Argentina

Bolivia 1-0 Brazil

Chile 0-0 Uruguay

Peru 0-1 Paraguay

Venezuela 3-6 Colombia

Matchday 18 - Final Table

 

1. Argentina 18/18 (+21) 38

2. Ecuador 18/18 (+9) 29

3. Colombia 18/18 (+10) 28

4. Uruguay 18/18 (+10) 28

5. Brazil 18/18 (+7) 28

6. Paraguay 18/18 (+4) 28

7. Bolivia 18/18 (-18) 20

8. Venezuela 18/18 (-10) 18

9. Peru 18/18 (-15) 12

10. Chile 18/18 (-18) 11

 

 

Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay all qualify for the World Cup and Bolivia have joined New Caledonia in the Inter-Continental Play-Offs.

Oh wow, Venezuela choked that one away. Impressive from Bolivia though!

That's about how I'd rank the South American teams on quality right now, the way the standings ended up. I think the Top 3 right now for sure is Argentina-Ecuador-Colombia.

Bolivia being in that intercontinental play-off will make things stay competitive, where as if one of the Top 5 had slipped to 7th, they might run the torunament without much resistance.

Edited September 10, 2025Sep 10 by DJHazey