CONMEBOL's World Cup 2026 Field Is Almost Complete

SDH Welcomes Gilmar Machado

((ed. note- SDH welcomes Gilmar Machado to our group of writers and analysts...

His long-standing work based in Brazil can be found at https://opiniaoplay.com/ and you can follow him on social media on X at @gmachadoalmeida...

As we broaden our coverage in South America and in the economics of soccer, we look forward to what The Professor brings via the written word. This time around, it's a quick look at the teams that made it- and one that has some work to do...))

South American qualifiers come to an end.

See who secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina, the current world champion, confirmed its status as favorite by qualifying in first place. Brazil secured a spot, but performed poorly. Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay (two-time world champion), and Paraguay also secured spots, while Bolivia will still compete in the playoffs.

From September 7, 2023, to September 9, 2025, ten teams competed in 18 rounds of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, and six teams qualified for the next edition of the biggest soccer competition to be held in Canada and the US. Argentina came in first with 38 points; Ecuador came in second with 29 points; Colombia came in third with 28 points; followed by Uruguay in fourth with 28 points; Brazil came in fifth with 28 points; and finally, Paraguay also with 28 points. Bolivia, with 20 points, came in sixth and will still have to compete in the playoffs. Venezuela, Peru, and Chile were left out of the world's biggest soccer event.

The current champion, Argentina, had a good competition and at no point was its qualification threatened. On the contrary, what we saw in most games, whether at home or away, was good football led by attacking midfielder Lionel Messi (the competition's top scorer with 8 goals), who currently plays for Inter Miami, an MLS team in the US.

In fact, there is a possibility that Messi will retire from soccer at the 2026 World Cup. Also noteworthy is the continuity of coach Lionel Scaloni's work, who maintained defensive consistency and ball possession with quick transitions from attacking midfielders. For the World Cup, the Argentine team will have most of the players who were in the qualifiers.

Brazil, five-time world champions, managed to confirm their qualification, but did not perform well in the competition. Over the two years of competition, inconsistencies on and off the field greatly affected the Brazilian team's journey, not only in the qualifiers but also in the Copa América.

The CBF had two presidents, and the team was led by four coaches who succeeded each other at the helm of the Seleção Canarinho (as the Brazilian national team is known in the country of soccer). During the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle, the Brazilian national team had four coaches: 1. Ramon Menezes (interim) – played three friendlies in early 2023. 2. Fernando Diniz (interim) – led the first six games of the qualifiers in 2023. 3. Dorival Júnior – coach from January 2024 to March 2025, including the Copa América and qualifiers. 4. Carlo Ancelotti – took over in May 2025 and is still there, with four games, two wins, one draw, and one loss, but managed to qualify.

Brazil secured its place in the World Cup, but left a lot of doubt about the team's performance. Ancelotti will have nine months, until the World Cup kicks off, to find a playing style that increases the Brazilian team's competitiveness. The defense and attack have several quality players available, but the midfield has fewer players, including Neymar. However, the current Santos-BR attacking midfielder is seen as an unknown quantity, as he has suffered constantly from physical problems in recent years.

Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay were consistent in their home games and qualified. Highlights include Colombian Liverpool player Luís Díaz, second top scorer in the qualifiers with 7 goals, Argentine strikers Lautaro Martinez (4 goals) and Julián Alvarez (4 goals), Paraguayan striker Sanabria (4 goals), and Brazilian Rafinha (5 goals).

Final table of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with wins, draws, losses, goals scored and conceded:

1. Argentina – 38 pts | 18 games | 12 wins | 2 draws | 4 losses | Goals scored: 31 | Goals conceded: 10

2. Ecuador – 29 pts | 18 games | 8 wins | 8 draws | 2 losses | Goals scored: 14 | Goals conceded: 5

3. Colombia – 28 pts | 18 games | 7 wins | 7 draws | 4 losses | Goals scored: 28 | Goals conceded: 18

4. Uruguay – 28 pts | 18 games | 7 wins | 7 draws | 4 losses | GF: 22 | GA: 12

5. Brazil – 28 pts | 18 games | 8 wins | 4 draws | 6 losses | GF: 24 | GA: 17

6. Paraguay – 26 pts | 18 games | 6 wins | 8 draws | 4 losses | GF: 13 | GA: 10

7. Bolivia* – 20 pts | 18 games | 6 wins | 2 draws | 10 losses | GF: 17 | GA: 35

8. Venezuela – 18 pts | 18 games | 4 wins | 6 draws | 8 losses | GF: 18 | GA: 28

9. Peru – 12 pts | 18 games | 2 wins | 6 draws | 10 losses | GF: 6 | GA: 21

10. Chile – 11 pts | 18 games | 2 wins | 5 draws | 11 losses | GF: 9 | GA: 27

*qualified for playoffs

((NEXT : Gilmar will take a look at the competitions in their final stages in Brazil and break down the news of a Financial Fair Play model in the country for the sport...))