As the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds, the South American qualifiers have already served up a series of captivating stories. Throughout the summer, all eyes were on the Copa America, a tournament that Argentina won for the second straight time – in addition to the FIFA World Cup they captured in 2022. However, outside of the Albiceleste, several interesting subplots are developing.
The reigning world champions had been flying in qualifying. They won six of their first seven games en route to defending their crown, with the only defeat coming at the hands of Uruguay. They triumphed in Buenos Aires last November thanks to goals from Ronaldo Araujo and Darwin Nunez, but Argentina bounced back by reeling off back-to-back victories against Brazil and Chile, the former of those on the road in Rio De Janeiro.
However, a second defeat – this time on matchday eight against Colombia – has thrown the race for the World Cup wide open. There have been shockers aplenty throughout. But who looks set to secure a spot in North America in two years?
Brazil: A Rocky Road
Brazil is unquestionably one of the giants of world football, having won on the global stage no fewer than five times, the most of any nation. However, since their most recent triumph way back in 2002, the Selecao have suffered quarter-final exits four times in the last five tournaments. And the only time they went past the last eight, they were thumped 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals.
But with the 2026 installment of the tournament looming on the horizon, there is no guarantee that the Brazilians will even feature at that tournament. On match day eight, they suffered their fourth defeat in eight games, losing 1-0 away at Paraguay thanks to Diego Gómez’s first-half winner. The result is the latest in a long line of poor performances that saw Brazil crash out of Copa America in the quarterfinals and triggered scathing criticism from former icon Ronaldinho.
Now, Dorival Júnior’s side finds itself down in fifth place with more defeats than they have victories, and their only savior may well be the fact that more teams from South America will qualify for the World Cup than ever before, courtesy of the tournament’s expansion. Despite their current betting woes, the latest online soccer betting tips are predicting that the Selecao could win the upcoming World Cup, pricing them as a +600 joint-favorite for glory alongside France and Spain. But first, they will have to improve fast if they are to avoid one of the great footballing embarrassments.
Resurgent Colombia
Colombia has been the surprise package of world football over the last year. With the veteran James Rodriguez continuing to shine despite entering the twilight of his career, the Colombians are the only team that is currently unbeaten in qualifying. Their mercurial captain netted the winner from the penalty spot against Argentina on matchday eight, and his side are now just two points behind Lionel Messi’s table toppers.
The two teams faced off in the recent Copa America final, with Colombia making it to the MetLife Stadium showpiece against all odds. They shocked Uruguay in the semifinals of the recent continental showdown but were ultimately beaten in the final thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s extra-time winner. They have since gained revenge for that defeat with the recent 2-1 victory in Barranquilla, and now they will aim for the top spot in the group.
Their campaign has been characterized by fluid attacking play built off the back of the aforementioned Rodriguez and Liverpool winger Luis Diaz. A win over Paraguay in Asunción on matchday six showcased their ability to control games and capitalize on opportunities. Now, their recent win against Argentina has underscored their credentials as potential outsiders to lift the famous gold trophy.
The Outsiders
With six teams guaranteed a spot at the World Cup and a seventh potentially available via an inter-continental playoff, more South American teams than ever before will feature in 2026. That, combined with the plight of the Brazilians, has a number of the continent’s underdogs with their eyes on qualification. The only team at present that looks to be out of the running is Peru, who are cut adrift at the bottom of the group with three wins and five draws from their eight games.
Another team having a torrid time at present is Chile. They won back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, but they have managed just one win from their games thus far, and a recent 2-1 defeat at home to Bolivia has left their hopes hanging by a thread.
Speaking of the Bolivians, they have very real ambitions of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1994. They are currently in eighth place with nine points to their name. However, with just one point separating them and Brazil in fifth, qualification is a very real possibility. Venezuela also has hopes of reaching the tournament for the first time, and they are level with the Brazilians on ten points following a goalless draw at home to Uruguay.
