Key Takeaways:
- Bolivia secured a 1-0 victory over Brazil in La Paz on Tuesday night to claim a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoffs
- Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Ecuador, with both teams already qualified for the World Cup
- Colombia finished third in the CONMEBOL standings after a 6-3 win in Venezuela, while Uruguay took fourth place with a goalless draw in Chile
Bolivia’s Triumph over Brazil
Bolivia produced a memorable upset in La Paz on Tuesday night, defeating five-time world champions Brazil 1-0 to guarantee their place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Miguel Terceros converted a penalty during first-half stoppage time, handing Bolivia a crucial lead that they managed to preserve until the final whistle. This result left Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side in fifth position in the South American qualifiers standings.
The Bolivian victory means they will now progress to the intercontinental playoff stage alongside two teams from CONCACAF and one representative each from the African, Asian, and Oceania confederations. These six sides will contest two remaining places at the World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The playoff matches are scheduled to take place in Monterrey and Guadalajara in March.
¡Resultados finales de las #EliminatoriasSudamericanas! 🔚
Resultados finais das #EliminatoriasSudamericanas! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/wPZFHDNycf
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) September 10, 2025
Ecuador Punish Argentina
In Guayaquil, Ecuador took advantage of a numerical advantage against the reigning world champions, overcoming Argentina 1-0. The fixture saw Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi dismissed in the 31st minute, and Ecuador capitalised, with Enner Valencia converting a penalty in first-half injury time. Moises Caicedo was later sent off for Ecuador in the 50th minute, but the hosts managed to see out the match and rise to second in the table. Argentina’s talisman Lionel Messi, who played his last official match at home the previous Thursday, did not feature in the game. In his absence Real Madrid’s youngster Franco Mastantuono wore the number 10 shirt.
Despite the defeat, Argentina retained top spot in the standings with 39 points, maintaining a nine-point cushion over second-placed Ecuador.
Final Standings and Detailed Results
Elsewhere in South America, Colombia claimed third position following a dominant 6-3 result against Venezuela in Maturin. Luis Suarez was the standout performer, netting four goals to definitively end Venezuelan hopes of reaching the playoff round. Uruguay closed their qualifying campaign in fourth place after a 0-0 draw with Chile in Santiago. Meanwhile, Matias Galarza scored the only goal of the match as Paraguay defeated Peru 1-0 in Lima, finishing the group in sixth place.
Looking Ahead: Intercontinental Playoffs
The intercontinental playoffs will determine the final two qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Bolivia will contest for one of the last two tournament berths alongside teams from CONCACAF, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The play-off matches are set for March in Monterrey and Guadalajara, ahead of the global tournament in North America.
