This defines the quota of the repechage in the qualifiers

Venezuela and Bolivia, in their match for qualifiers.

Photo: EFE – Ronald Peña

With its six direct quotas already distributed, South America on Tuesday defines its only slope with a view to the American World Cup in 2026: What selection will play the play, Venezuela or Bolivia?

The Vinotinto seems to have everything served to lower the curtain of the long South American qualifiers with the repechage ticket in the hand, the previous station to fight to classify its first World Cup.

The only selection of Conmebol that has never participated in the soccer summit event, Venezuela occupies with 18 points the seventh place, which grants the right to fight for a space in the appointment that will house the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.

In the eighteenth and last day, he receives in Maturín (6:30 PM, Gol Caracol and Ditu) to Colombia, his traditional border rival, with a wide deck of options to keep the pass to the tie competition that will be played in March.

Unlike yesteryear, when there were direct duels, the last two invitations to the 2026 World Cup will be delivered at the end of a minitor – presumably in Mexico – with the presence of six selections from all over the world.

Avoid surprises

Fernando Batista's pupils will stay with the square if they win, but also if they tie or lose and Bolivia, eighth with one unity less, does not defeat Brazil in the 4,150 meters above the level of the sea of ​​El Alto in a clash that is disputed simultaneously.

However, Venezuela does not want surprises in front of some Colombians (5th, with 25 units) that aspire to be on the podium of a tie in whose closure left bad image.

“We have a final with our people,” said Bocha after falling 3-0 against Argentina on Thursday in Buenos Aires. “We want to give the Venezuelan people a joy.”

Colombia lands on Venezuelan soil after beating Bolivia 3-0 and ensuring its return to a World Cup, after absent in Catar 2022.

The fall in Barranquilla left the green on a complicated stage, which only serves a Vinotinto stumbling and beat the Brazil of Carlo Ancelotti, as an eventual draw in the table favors Venezuela, which has a better goal difference.

Oscar Villegas' men cling to the damage that can cause the height of El Alto in the physicist of the world's pentacampeones, who aspire to keep the second place.

Without Neymar or Vinícius JR, Canarinha intends to bury the World Cup of La Verde, which attended a World Cup in the United States for the third and last time in the United States, after participating previously in Uruguay 1930 and Brazil 1950.

“The Brazilian shirt cannot allow players, the team, that there are more or less important matches,” Ancelotti warned.

The honor, at stake

The other South American combined lower the curtain in a barely anecdotal fight, in which only the final positions in the classification table are at stake.

Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay are already sure as South American representatives in the North American contest.

The world champions, who will give rest to Lionel Messi, open the date with a visit to Ecuador (4th, with 26 integers) in Guayaquil in which they intend to try players.

“There will be forced changes, but we also believe it is important to see other players,” coach Albiceleste, Lionel Scaloni, anticipated on Monday, whose team is guaranteed the tip of the qualifiers with 38 units.

The Uruguay of Marcelo Bielsa (27 points) visit to the colista and evicted Chile (10) in Santiago with the aim of ensuring at least the third box.

Without traces of the golden generation that gave it its only two titles, those of the Copa América in 2015 and 2016, the Red barely remains to think about the preparation of the 2030 World Cup.

In a similar situation is Peru, penultimate placed with 12 points, which challenges the Albirroja (6th, with 25) by Gustavo Alfaro, turned into a national hero of Paraguay after scoring the country in a World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

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