The South American Qualifiers are entering their final stretch, and this Thursday’s matchday could prove decisive in the battle for the last tickets to the 2026 World Cup. With Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador already qualified directly, six national teams still hold on to the dream of claiming the three remaining spots or, at the very least, securing the place in the intercontinental playoff.

The teams still in contention are Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru, all with mathematical chances of reaching the big event that will take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The standings situation

With 24 points, Uruguay and Paraguay have qualification within reach. A victory—or even a draw—this matchday would secure their place at the World Cup. Their advantage over Venezuela, currently seventh with 18 points, gives them a comfortable safety margin.

Colombia, with 22 points, depends solely on itself: if it defeats Bolivia in Barranquilla, it will seal direct qualification. In the event of a draw, it would need La Vinotinto to fail to beat Argentina at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The outlook is tougher for Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru. The first two are aiming to stay alive at least in the playoff race, while the Peruvians, with just 12 points, need nothing short of a miracle to climb into that seventh spot.

The playoff and what’s at stake

The seventh place in the table will grant a spot in the intercontinental playoff, which will be held in March 2026. Six teams from different confederations (Conmebol, Oceania, Africa, Asia, and Concacaf) will take part in that tournament, with two additional World Cup tickets on the line. So far, the only team confirmed for the mini-tournament is New Caledonia from Oceania.

For Venezuela, qualifying would be historic, as it would mark their first-ever appearance at a World Cup. However, the road won’t be easy: they visit Argentina and then close against Colombia in Maturín. Bolivia, with 17 points, also faces a daunting task, as they must take on the Colombians and then host Brazil in La Paz.

Peru, with 12 points, still clings to a slim hope, but would need to win both remaining matches and count on an unlikely combination of results.

Matchday 17 promises high drama with clashes that could define the future of several national teams. Everything points to Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia being very close to sealing their tickets, while the last playoff spot will be the big consolation prize in a qualifying campaign that has been more competitive than expected.