We look specifically at what top teams like Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay need to do in order to qualify for 2026.
In what was a summer of soccer, the 2024 Copa America is just one of many tournaments that are now complete, with Argentina crowned as the reigning South American champion.
The focus of CONMEBOL, the federation for South American soccer, now shifts to the next two years in what is likely the most grueling World Cup qualifying on the planet.
With teams playing 18 matches stretching over the next two and a half years, South America’s qualifying route is brutal and normally caused some big teams to potentially be left on the outside looking in at the FIFA World Cup.
FIFA’s World Cup in 2026 will be the first to have 48 teams in the field, which gives even more South American teams a chance to be a part of the biggest sporting event ever.
Despite the tournament’s expansion and the number of CONMEBOL teams that qualify increasing, World Cup qualifying continues to be a journey. Here’s a look at the current standings, which includes the three points docked from Ecuador’s total due to their use of an ineligible player in the last cycle.
Looking at those standings, three teams stand to have an interesting couple of years based on their performance at the Copa América as they seek to return to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.
Brazil exited Copa América in the quarterfinals, losing to Uruguay on penalties. The team on paper has a ton of talent, including attacking players like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Endrick. Alisson Becker holds down the fort in goal, and they just have household names at almost every position.
So, why the struggles at Copa América?
They just weren’t able to fully play to the high standards soccer fans are used to seeing. Now, they resume World Cup qualifying where they have fared worse, currently sitting sixth in the standings with a losing record.
Surprisingly, the whole nation is in a similar to that of the United States, attempting to figure out what their style of play should be and whether the current player pool is capable of inspiring the nation as they chase what would be a sixth World Cup title. They also have cycled through coaches, with no one seemingly able to fix their issues.
Brazil is at a real crossroads. They have never missed a World Cup, and they don’t want to start now in what would be the largest tournament field. And the last time the World Cup was in the United States in 1994, Brazil lifted the trophy for the fourth time.
Essentially, Brazil need its stars to start playing like stars on the international stage on the offensive end and they have to play better defense if they want to really be viewed as a contender in 2026.
Colombia’s run to the Copa América final was nothing short of inspirational. Riding an unbeaten streak that dated back to February 2022, Colombia’s run ended at 28 straight matches in the loss to Argentina. In fact, the bookends of The Streak were 1-0 losses to Argentina on a Lautaro Martinez goal.
So, Colombia has to be ecstatic at how far they’ve come and their chances of being viewed as a serious contender at the World Cup.
So far, they’re unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, currently sitting in third place within CONMEBOL’s table. And, they have found several players who are playing incredible soccer at this point. They probably didn’t count on the rejuvenation of captain James Rodriguez to help them during Copa América, but now that it has happened, they have to feel good about their chances of being successful during the rest of qualifying. If they can continue to play at this elite level, the world should consider themselves on notice that Los Cafeteros are coming for it all.
Uruguay finished the Copa América in third place, losing to Colombia in the semifinals and then coming back to beat Canada on penalties in the third Place match. They may have to deal with some fallout from the melee that ensued after the end of the semifinal match against Colombia that saw Uruguayan players run into the stands to fight Colombian fans who were messing with their families.
Still, they’re in good shape as they resume FIFA World Cup qualifying.
They currently stand in second place in the table, and the great thing for head coach Marcelo Bielsa is that Uruguay has quietly rebuilt itself into a machine. Of the players on the Copa América roster, only Luis Suarez is over 31 years old, and at age 37, it’s hard to imagine that he will be on the team in 2026.
There are 14 players on Uruguay’s roster who are 25 or younger, including stars Darwin Núñez and Federico Valverde, and that young corps is building the experience they need to be ready to make a run in 2026. They still need to finish out World Cup qualifying, but if they remain healthy, Uruguay may emerge as one of the teams that the rest of the field knows will be a problem.
