Colombia has secured its return to the World Cup stage after achieving qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the direction of Néstor Lorenzo, the Colombian national team defeated Bolivia 3-0 in Barranquilla, which allowed them to secure one of the six direct berths awarded by CONMEBOL. This achievement represents an important step forward for the team, which failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. On the final matchday of the qualifiers, Colombia will face Venezuela, which still maintains hopes of reaching the playoff. The Tricolor will seek to close out its participation with a victory that could improve its position in the FIFA World Rankings, a crucial factor for the World Cup draw.
Meanwhile, the excitement centers on the battle for seventh place, a tight race between Venezuela and Bolivia for a spot in the World Cup playoff. With 18 points, Venezuela needs a victory over Colombia to secure its place in the March 2026 mini-tournament, where teams from various confederations will compete for the last two berths in the World Cup. For its part, Bolivia, with 17 points, will have to face Brazil in El Alto, needing more points than Venezuela. This knockout and playoff format will be part of the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams, which adds even more excitement to this decisive stage of the qualification process.
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