Venezuela or Bolivia: what they need for 2026 World Cup play-off | OneFootball

With its six direct spots already guaranteed, South America will decide its only remaining issue this Tuesday, before the 2026 North America World Cup: which team will compete in the playoff, Venezuela or Bolivia?

The Vinotinto seems to have everything ready to end the long South American qualifiers with a ticket to the playoff in hand, the prelude to the fight for qualification for their first World Cup.

The only team from the CONMEBOL that has never participated in the main football event, Venezuela is in seventh place with 18 points, which guarantees them the right to fight for a spot in the tournament that will be hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

In the eighteenth and final round, the team hosts traditional rival Colombia in Maturín (7:30 pm local time, 11 pm Brasília time).

New playoff format

Unlike other times, when there were direct duels, the last two invitations to the 2026 World Cup will be granted at the end of a mini-tournament — presumably in Mexico — with six teams from around the world participating.

Avoiding surprises

The team of Fernando Batista secures the spot if they win, but also if they draw or lose, and Bolivia, eighth place with one point less, fails to defeat Brazil at 4,150 meters altitude in El Alto, in a simultaneous match.

But Venezuela does not want surprises against the Colombians (5th, with 25 points), who are seeking a podium in a qualifying phase in which they left a very bad impression.

“We have a final with our people,” said Bocha after the 3-0 defeat to Argentina on Thursday, in Buenos Aires.

Colombia arrives at the match after thrashing Bolivia by 3-0 and ensuring their return to the World Cup, after missing out on Qatar 2022.

A possible draw favors Venezuela, which has a better goal difference.

Brazil and the altitude of El Alto

The team led by Oscar Villegas clings to the damage that altitude can cause to the physical condition of the Brazilian team, which is seeking to secure second place.

Without Neymar and Vinícius Jr., the canary team tries to end Bolivia's dream, which participated in a World Cup for the third and last time in 1994, in the United States.

“The Brazilian jersey cannot allow the players, the team, to have more or less important games,” warned Ancelotti.

Honor at stake

The other South American teams end the round competing only for symbolic positions in the table.

Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay are already qualified for the tournament.

The world champions, who will spare Lionel Messi, face Ecuador in Guayaquil.

“It's important to look at other players,” said Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, who has secured the lead with 38 points.

The Uruguay of Marcelo Bielsa (27 points) visits Chile (10) in Santiago, while Peru (12 points) hosts Paraguay (25) in Lima.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.