Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Paraguay, Uruguay and Colombia clinched their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday night.
Paraguay qualified for next summer’s tourney on Thursday with a 0-0 draw over Ecuador.
Los Guaranies heads to the World Cup for a ninth time. Its last trip, at South Africa 2010, was its most successful tournament ever. After topping a group that also included Slovakia, New Zealand and Italy, Paraguay upset Japan on penalties in the Round of 16. The team ultimately fell 1-0 to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals on a late goal from David Villa.
Heading into Thursday’s action, defending champions Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador had already qualified from CONMEBOL.
Uruguay earned passage to next year’s tournament with a 3-0 win over Peru. Federico Vinas, Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Rodrigo Aguirre scored for La Celeste in the victory/draw.
It’s a 15th World Cup appearance for Uruguay and fifth in a row. The team had a disappointing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, eliminated in the group stage after winning only a single match.
Colombia booked their trip to next summer’s tournament with a 3-0 victory over Bolivia coupled with Venezuela’s loss to Argentina.
It’s a seventh trip to the World Cup for Colombia, who missed out on Qatar 2022. Los Cafeteros’ best-ever finish at a World Cup came at Brazil 2014 when they reached the quarter-finals before falling 2-1 to the host Selecao.