South American Qualifiers are back: Matches, times and where to watch

After almost a year of waiting and with the 2024 Copa América as an interlude, the 10 South American teams are back in the fight for a place in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This Thursday, September 5, the 7th round of the South American Qualifiers will begin with the following matches:

• Bolivia vs Venezuela: The opening match will take place at altitude in La Paz, where Bolivia, under the direction of its new coach Óscar Villegas, will try to take advantage of its home field at the El Alto Municipal Stadium, more than 4,000 meters above sea level. For its part, Venezuela, which finished 2023 in good form with 9 points and in the direct qualification zone, will seek to continue its rise.

• Argentina vs Chile: The second match, and probably the most attractive, will be played in Buenos Aires. Argentina, the leader of the FIFA rankings, will face Chile at the Mas Monumental stadium. Although Lionel Messi will not be present due to an injury, the Chileans, led by Ricardo Gareca, know that they need to add points to improve their position in the table.

• Uruguay vs Paraguay: In Montevideo, Uruguay will host Paraguay in a match full of emotions. Luis Suárez, who announced his retirement from the national team, will bid farewell to the fans at the Centenario stadium. Paraguay, under the new direction of Gustavo Alfaro, urgently needs a victory to stay in the fight, while Uruguay, second in the standings, will look to consolidate its position.

• Brazil vs Ecuador: Brazil, who have had an inconsistent start to the qualifiers, will host Ecuador looking to regain their usual form and climb up the table, where they currently occupy an unusual sixth position. Ecuador, meanwhile, arrive with a new coach, Sebastián Beccacece, who will take on his first challenge in charge of the team.