Date 2 of the best Qualifiers in the world

This week is the first round of matches in the South American Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup United States, Canada and Mexico 2026. The second day of the qualifier will bring exciting matches.

The matches of this second date will be played in the cities of La Paz – Bolivia, Quito – Ecuador, Santiago – Chile, Lima – Peru and Maturín – Venezuela.

In peace: Bolivia against Argentina

State: Hernando Siles Stadium

time: 4:00 pm (BOL time) – 5:00 pm (ARG time)

referee: Esteban Ostojich (URU)

VAR referee: Andres Cunha (URU)

Background:

• Bolivia has five wins against Argentina in South American Qualifiers, the longest record against La Albiceleste of any country competing in the tournament. All of Bolivia’s victories have come playing at home.
• Bolivia scored 17 goals at home in the last edition of the South American Qualifiers. Only Ecuador (19) and Brazil (23) have scored more goals than the Bolivians playing at home. However, Purslane was also the team that conceded the most goals at home in the last edition of the tournament (14).
• Argentina are unbeaten in their last 10 matches at the South American Qualifiers (W6 D4), the longest unbeaten streak as a visitor in the history of the tournament. The last defeat of the albiceleste in this situation occurred precisely against Bolivia: 0-2 in March 2017.
• Argentina is the team with the most passes attempted on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup (710). On the other hand, Bolivia was the team that attempted the fewest passes on the opening day of the tournament (156).
• Lionel Messi has four goals from direct free kicks in the last four editions of the South American Qualifiers. Among all teams, Venezuela barely matched Argentina in the number of free-kick goals in that interval.

In Quito: Ecuador against Uruguay

State: Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium

time: 4:00 pm (ECU time) – 6:00 pm (URU time)

referee: Wilton Sampaio (BRA)

VAR referee: Daniel Nobre (BRA)

Background:

• Uruguay has won five games as a guest against Ecuador in the South American Qualifiers, which is the team with the most losses in the tournament in this condition. However, La Tri has won the last three times that La Celeste has received for the tournament.
• Ecuador are unbeaten in their last six home games in the South American Qualifiers (W3 D3). La Tri conceded just two goals in that span, in 1-1 draws against Argentina and Brazil.
• Uruguay have won their last two matches in the South American Qualifiers. The only time La Celeste had three consecutive tournament wins occurred between 1965 and 1969.
• Uruguay (25 years 47 days) and Ecuador (26 years 320 days) had the lowest average ages of their starting teams on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
• Nicolás de la Cruz is one of the three players with three participation goals in the opening day of this edition of the South American Qualifiers, along with the Brazilians Neymar and Rodrygo. De la Cruz scored his team’s first and third goals, in addition to assisting on the second.

In Santiago: Chile vs. Colombia

State: David Arellano Monumental Stadium

time: 9:30 pm (CHI time) – 7:30 pm (COL time)

referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)

VAR referee: Juan Soto (VEN)

Background:

• Colombia are unbeaten in their last six matches against Chile in the South American Qualifiers (W2 D4). This is the longest unbeaten streak in confrontations between these countries in the tournament.
• Colombia won the last game away from home in the South American Qualifiers (2-0 against Venezuela in March 2022). The only time the Cafeteros had back-to-back wins as visitors to the tournament occurred between the 2010 and 2014 World Cup qualifications (3V).
• The Chilean Dario Osorio is the youngest to participate in the first day of the South American Qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup (born 01/24/2004). Half of the six players born after 2002 who played on opening day were Chilean. In addition to Osorio, Alexander Aravena and Nayel Mehssatou.
• James Rodriguez created four passes for his teammates’ shots against Venezuela, the most on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, tied with Neymar, Raphinha and Nicolás de la Cruz. Of the four, only the Colombian failed to attend.
• Luis Díaz attempted 12 dribbles against Venezuela, the maximum on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Colombia is the team with the most dribbles attempted on the opening day of the tournament (28).

In Lima: Peru vs. Brazil

State: National Stadium

time: 9:00 pm (PER time) – 11:00 pm (BRA time)

referee: Fernando Rapallini (ARG)

VAR referee: German Dolphin (ARG)

Background:

• Brazil have never lost to Peru in South American Qualifiers (W9 D4). The Peruvians are one of three teams that have never beaten the Brazilians in the tournament, along with Venezuela (D1 L17) and Colombia (D7 L7).
• Peru are unbeaten in their last six home games in the South American Qualifiers (W4 D2). It is their second-best home unbeaten run at the tournament this century, behind a stretch of nine games between 2004 and 2008 (W3 D6).
• Brazil are unbeaten in their last 17 matches at the South American Qualifiers (W10 D7), the longest unbeaten streak as a visitor in the history of the tournament. Brazil’s last defeat away from home in the Qualifiers took place in October 2015 (0-2 against Chile).
• Brazil is the team with the most shots on goal on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup (11). On the other hand, Peru was the only team that failed to have effective shots on the opening day of the tournament.
• Pedro Gallese made six saves against Paraguay, the most on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, tied with Guillermo Viscarra, from Bolivia, who played against Brazil. However, the Peruvian goalkeeper kept his goal unbeaten, and the Bolivian conceded five goals.

In Maturín: Venezuela vs. Paraguay

State: Maturín Monumental Stadium

time: 6:00 pm (VEN time) – 6:00 pm (EVEN time)

referee: Andrés Rojas (COL)

VAR referee: Yadir Acuña (COL)

Background:

• Paraguay has six wins as a guest against Venezuela in the South American Qualifiers (W6 D1 L1). Only Brazil has won more away games than Vinotinto in the tournament (9).
• Paraguay’s only victory in the last edition of the South American Qualifiers was the first game away from home and against Venezuela: 1-0 in October 2020.
• The match between Venezuela and Paraguay is the only match on the second day of the South American Qualifiers where two teams that did not score a goal on the opening day will face each other.
• Alexander González, from Venezuela, pitched six innings against Colombia, the longest on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Venezuela is the second team with the most innings on the opening day (25), surpassed only by Argentina (28).
• Paraguay attempted 39 crosses against Peru, more than double the second team with the most attempts at the venue on the first day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup (15 from Brazil, Argentina and Colombia).