BUENOS AIRES — As South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup heats up, both Argentina and Brazil are set to welcome back some of their star players in the final two rounds of matches this year, heightening the excitement for fans of the beautiful game.
Defending World Cup champions Argentina will see the return of their stalwart goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, who was sidelined due to a suspension that kept him out of two international matches in October. Meanwhile, Brazil will be bolstered by the comeback of dynamic winger Vinícius Júnior, who has recovered from an injury that ruled him out of the previous qualifiers.
Leaders Argentina are gearing up to face Paraguay in Asuncion on Thursday, shortly after Brazil, currently sitting in fourth, travels to Venezuela for another crucial qualifier.
The action continues on Thursday, with Ecuador hosting Bolivia in Guayaquil, adding to the day’s drama in the South American qualifiers.
Arguably, the standout fixture of the 11th round will occur on Friday when third-place Uruguay takes on second-place Colombia in a highly anticipated clash in Montevideo. The two teams at the bottom of the standings, Peru and Chile, will also face off on the same day to fight for crucial points.
Following this round, all teams will compete again next Tuesday for the 12th round, with Argentina set to host Peru and Brazil enjoying home advantage against Uruguay.
Argentina leads the table with 22 points, three ahead of Colombia, and both Uruguay and Brazil trail closely with 16 points each. The teams of Ecuador and Paraguay round out the top six, holding 13 points apiece, which grants them direct access to the upcoming World Cup.
Bolivia currently holds 12 points and stands seventh, which would position them for a playoff opportunity. Venezuela trails with 11 points, while Peru and Chile languish at the bottom with 6 and 5 points, respectively.
Argentina has a trajectory towards World Cup qualification if they can secure victories against both Paraguay and Peru, promising a thrilling continuation to their campaign.
Lionel Messi, the captain and talisman of the team, remains Argentina’s biggest hope for scoring, having dazzled with a stunning hat trick and two assists during the team’s commanding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in October. His outstanding performance has placed him as the top scorer in the ongoing South American qualifying tournament.
Traveling to face Paraguay, Argentina will be met with the challenge of facing a squad that has been revitalized under coach Gustavo Alfaro, an Argentine who has yet to see his team lose since taking the reins in mid-year. In their last outing, Paraguay managed to pull off a significant 1-0 upset against Brazil.
In a setback for coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s defensive strategy may face upheaval due to an injury sustained by Lisandro Martínez during Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League, forcing him to withdraw from international duty. Furthermore, Scaloni has already been grappling with the absence of Germán Pezzella.
In Brazil, coach Dorival Júnior found relief in October after his side secured two consecutive wins against Chile and Peru in qualifying, although Vinícius Júnior was absent during those matches.
Fans will keenly observe Vinícius’s ability to perform against the formidable defenses of Venezuela and Uruguay as he aims to replicate his decisive form seen at Real Madrid for his national team.
Once again, Brazil will be without Neymar, who is sidelined due to a muscular injury incurred earlier this month. Adding to their woes, there are no prominent center forwards available, as Rodrygo is also injured and Endrick was not called up. As such, Vinícius will likely have to seamlessly connect with teammates Raphinha and Luiz Henrique to drive the attack.
Vinícius faces daunting obstacles as he comes up against two teams currently in turmoil. Venezuela is struggling, having not won in their last six qualifiers, while the spotlight is also on Uruguay, where coach Marcelo Bielsa faces scrutiny from former players regarding his management of the team.
While victory for Brazil in both matches won’t immediately seal their World Cup fate, it would undoubtedly provide much-needed reassurance to both players and supporters after a challenging year.
Colombia, on the other hand, can expect a hostile atmosphere in Montevideo on Friday, carrying the weight of past encounters that remain unresolved following their intense semifinal clash with Uruguay at the Copa América in the United States this past July.
Colombia’s prior victory triggered a brawl between their fans and the family members of Uruguay’s players. Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez infamously led his team into the stands to protect their relatives during the chaotic scene, resulting in a subsequent five-match suspension for Núñez.
In a further complication, Uruguay’s Bielsa will also have to strategize without two of his key midfielders, Nicolás de la Cruz and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, both sidelined with injuries. Notably, Uruguay has not registered a victory since their third-place match at the Copa América.
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Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.
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**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, and welcome back to our sports segment! Today, we’re joined by football analyst Maria Gomez to discuss the latest updates in the South American qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup. Maria, there’s a lot of excitement building around the return of star players for both Argentina and Brazil. What can we expect in the upcoming matches?
**Maria Gomez:** Good afternoon! Yes, the energy in South American football is certainly heating up. Argentina is poised to welcome back their key goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, which is huge for them after his suspension. His presence adds vital stability to their defense as they head into a critical match against Paraguay.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely. And let’s not forget Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, who has been out due to injury. How crucial is his return for Brazil as they face Venezuela?
**Maria Gomez:** Vinícius is essential for Brazil’s attacking strategy. His dynamic play and pace can create significant opportunities, especially as Brazil has been struggling with injuries lately, including missing Neymar and Rodrygo. With his return, he’ll need to step up and form a connection with Raphinha and Luiz Henrique to drive their offense forward.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like both teams are facing challenges but also have opportunities. Looking at Argentina’s standings, with 22 points, they seem to be in a strong position. What do you think their chances are against Paraguay?
**Maria Gomez:** Argentina’s chances are quite good, especially given their recent form. With Lionel Messi leading the attack after his remarkable performance against Bolivia, they have a lot of firepower. However, Paraguay has been revitalized under coach Gustavo Alfaro and will certainly put up a fight, especially after their win against Brazil. It will be an interesting clash!
**Interviewer:** Speaking of interesting clashes, the matchup between Uruguay and Colombia stands out as well. What should fans look out for in this fixture?
**Maria Gomez:** That’s the standout game of this round! Both teams are vying for critical points. Uruguay, currently in third place, faces a lot of scrutiny, and with Marcelo Bielsa under pressure, they need a strong performance. Meanwhile, Colombia will be eager to capitalize on any weaknesses. This match could have significant implications for both teams’ World Cup aspirations.
**Interviewer:** It certainly sets the stage for an exciting set of matches. What can we expect for Brazil as they aim for points against Venezuela and Uruguay in the coming week?
**Maria Gomez:** Brazil needs to capitalize on these matches to solidify their position. The pressure is on coach Dorival Júnior to deliver results despite the injuries. The key will be how well Vinícius can integrate with the remaining squad members and overcome Venezuela’s defensive strategies. A strong performance against Venezuela could give them much-needed momentum going into the Uruguay match.
**Interviewer:** Great insights, Maria. As the World Cup qualifiers progress, the stakes are only getting higher. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today!
**Maria Gomez:** Thank you for having me! I’m excited to see how these matches unfold!
