Tip: Double chance: Argentina not to lose
Ecuador will finish their qualifying campaign at home against Argentina, knowing they have already secured their place at the World Cup despite starting with a three-point deduction. Sebastián Beccacece’s team has relied on a rock-solid defense, conceding only five goals in 17 matches – the best record in the entire CONMEBOL section. The issue has been in attack, with Ecuador failing to score in their last four matches and not finding the net since Enner Valencia’s brace against Venezuela back in March. Alan Franco returns to the squad, while Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo remains a doubt. At the back, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho are set to start, both considered among South America’s most promising centre-backs. Argentina will arrive without Lionel Messi, who played his final competitive home qualifier in Buenos Aires against Venezuela, scoring twice and providing a perfect farewell to the fans. Lautaro Martínez of Inter is expected to lead the line in his place after an excellent qualifying campaign. Argentina are already certain of first place and can play with freedom, though they will be motivated to extend their unbeaten run which stretches back to last November.
Tip: Win: Brazil
Bolivia enter the final matchday hoping for a miracle – if they beat Brazil and Venezuela fail against Colombia, they will secure a playoff place for the World Cup. Coach Óscar Villegas knows it will be an extremely difficult task, as Bolivia have not defeated Brazil in 16 years. They also come into the game after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Colombia and must quickly rebuild confidence. Playing at high altitude in La Paz is usually their biggest weapon, often unsettling opponents. Young talent Miguelito is expected to feature in attack alongside Moises Paniagua, while the midfield is set to remain unchanged. Brazil already booked their ticket to the tournament, but Carlo Ancelotti continues to fine-tune his team. Against Chile, the Seleção produced a dominant 3-0 win with goals from Estevão Willian, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães. Ancelotti rested stars such as Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo, giving opportunities to others. The altitude could present a challenge, yet Brazil’s quality should be more than enough to extend their winning streak.
Tip: Win: Uruguay
Chile’s qualifying campaign has been another disappointment, with the nation missing out on a third consecutive World Cup. The team is in deep crisis, having managed only two wins from 17 games. Interim coach Nicolás Córdova has failed to halt the poor run, with La Roja most recently suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brazil. Their biggest problem lies in attack – they have gone five games without a goal and rely mostly on isolated flashes from younger players like Gonzalo Tapia. Uruguay, on the other hand, travel to Santiago with their place at the World Cup already secured. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have struggled away from home, with just one victory on the road, but they showed their strength in a 3-0 home win over Peru. Ronald Araújo and Nahitan Nández return from suspension, while Darwin Núñez is also available after serving a lengthy ban. Uruguay have dominated recent meetings, winning four of the last five, including a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture in September 2023. La Celeste will want to finish qualifying in style and confirm their place as one of South America’s strongest teams.
Tip: Double chance: Paraguay not to lose
Peru finish the qualifiers with no chance of reaching the playoffs and once again missing out on a World Cup. Under interim coach Óscar Ibáñez, they have shown glimpses of quality but lacked consistency. They lost 3-0 to Uruguay last time out and also picked up two fresh injuries. Forward José Rivera could provide attacking spark, while veteran Christian Cueva remains the key in midfield. Paraguay, by contrast, have reason to celebrate, returning to the World Cup after 16 long years. Coach Gustavo Alfaro has built a solid, resilient side, even if it means a more defensive style. Captain Gustavo Gómez of Palmeiras anchors the defense, while Antonio Sanabria should lead the attack alongside Ronaldo Martínez. Paraguay’s away form is not the strongest, but victory could even lift them into the top three of the standings. Peru will want to give their supporters something to cheer on home soil, but Paraguay’s motivation and momentum could prove decisive.
Tip: Double chance: Colombia not to lose
Venezuela are on the brink of history – a win at home against Colombia would seal a playoff spot and keep alive their dream of a first-ever World Cup appearance. Coach Fernando Batista faces a major challenge, however, as his team have lost form and were thrashed 3-0 by Argentina in their previous outing. Veteran striker Salomón Rondón, the country’s all-time leading scorer, will once again be relied upon to inspire the attack. José Martínez is also available after suspension. Colombia, meanwhile, can enjoy the match with their qualification already secured following a 3-0 victory over Bolivia. James Rodríguez continues to be an influential leader, while Liverpool’s Luis Díaz has been their main attacking threat, scoring five goals in his last ten appearances. Coach Néstor Lorenzo may rotate his squad slightly, given Colombia’s struggles away from home, where they have only one win in eight games. Even so, Colombia have dominated this fixture in recent years and will look to extend that record in Maturín. Venezuela’s motivation is immense, but Colombia’s experience could ultimately prove decisive.