The race to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is reaching its most dramatic stage, and for Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru, the pressure could not be higher. With only two matchdays left in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, these three nations are battling for survival, with dreams of automatic qualification or at least a playoff spot hanging in the balance.
Venezuela Under Pressure to Deliver
Venezuela have long been chasing their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, and at one point in this campaign, that dream looked achievable. Under coach Fernando Batista, La Vinotinto pulled off big results, including a 1-1 draw away to Brazil and a dominant 3-0 win against Chile. But recent defeats to Paraguay, Chile, and Ecuador have derailed their momentum.
With matches left against Argentina and Colombia, Venezuela must find a way to regroup quickly. Veteran striker Salomon Rondon, who has scored five goals in the qualifiers, remains their biggest hope. If results elsewhere go their way, Venezuela could still leapfrog into an automatic spot—but they can’t afford any more mistakes.
Bolivia’s Hopes Still Alive
Bolivia remain just one point behind Venezuela and still in contention. Coach Oscar Villegas has injected belief into the team, and their campaign has seen high points, including three consecutive wins over Venezuela, Chile, and Colombia.
Their upcoming fixtures, however, are daunting: away to Colombia and then hosting Brazil. Miguel Terceros has been Bolivia’s standout player with six goals, matching Lionel Messi’s tally in these qualifiers. For Bolivia to pull off the impossible, they will need him to be at his very best in the final stretch.
Peru’s Complicated Path
Peru’s hopes rest on a near-perfect scenario. With only 12 points, they must win both of their remaining matches—against Uruguay and Paraguay—and also rely on Venezuela and Bolivia dropping points. Coaching changes have disrupted their campaign, and consistency has been lacking. Still, Peru know that in football, miracles are possible, and they will fight until the final whistle.
The Bigger Picture
Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador have already secured their places at the World Cup. Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia are currently in strong positions to join them. That leaves Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru fighting tooth and nail for one final shot at history.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information from FIFA (https://www.fifa.com). It is intended for informational and blogging purposes only. All rights to the original content belong to FIFA.
