FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Picks: Top 3, Middle of the table, and what happened at the bottom

It still feels as though the 2026 World Cup is a long way off in the future, but the sheer size of this tournament means that we are already into the qualifying phase of things.

While the European nations will need to wait for their qualifying to begin, the tournament is well underway in different parts of the world.

My CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Analysis

This includes CONMEBOL qualifying, which is home to all the South American teams.

It can be argued that this group is one of the easiest to get out of, as 6 of the 10 teams taking part will make it to the 2026 World Cup, with the 7th place team heading into an Intercontinental Playoff Game, which usually comes against a team from Asia/Oceania.

While there are still plenty of games to come in CONMEBOL qualifying, we thought it would be good to recap how things look now, so let’s get to it.

Argentina – 18 Points

After 8 games, it is the reigning World Champions sitting atop the standings in CONMEBOL qualifying.

They have picked up 18 points from their 8 games to this point, scoring 12 goals and giving up just 4.

They did, though, close out the latest round of games with a 2-1 loss to Colombia, which has tightened things up at the top of the group.

Lionel Messi is healthy again, so expect to see him back for the next matchday. Argentina will easily be one of the top 6.

The GOAT is back 🔙🐐 pic.twitter.com/8IWRzHnoLt

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) September 14, 2024

Colombia – 16 Points

If there was any doubt that this team is for real, then look no further than their most recent win over the World Champions.

The victory over Argentina now has Colombia within 2 points of the top spot, but you can bet that they will be more than happy with finishing in their current position.

Colombia has scored 6 times in their first 8 games, but they have also been defensively sound, surrendering just 5.

They, too, should be automatic qualifiers.

Uruguay – 15 Points

While Uruguay has only lost 1 game from 8, it is their 3 draws that have them sitting where they are right now.

One thing Uruguay can lay claim to is being the top scorers in qualifying to this point, banging in 13 goals versus 5 surrendered.

While this is a team in something of a transition phase, with Luis Suarez bowing out of international football, they are brimming with young talent and look like a sure bet to be part of the top 6.

Ecuador – 11 Points

I think it’s fair to suggest that the top 3 teams will be heading to the World Cup, but below them, things get a little tighter and tougher to predict.

Some fans will almost certainly be surprised to see Ecuador sitting in 4th spot right now, but will they be able to maintain that spot, or perhaps even climb higher?

While they have only given up 4 goals to this point, they have managed to score only 6. Their D should keep them in it.

Brazil – 10 Points

If you have grown up watching international football, you have more than likely taken some real joy in watching Brazil play.

This team, though, looks pretty far removed from the Brail teams of the past, and they are coming off another poor performance that saw them lose 1-0 to Paraguay.

It doesn’t help that Neymar has fallen off a cliff since his big money move to Saudi Arabia. It will be a grind, but you still have to believe that Brazil will land in the top 6.

Venezuela – 10 Points

It has only been 2 wins from 8 for Venezuela, but they have padded their points total by picking up a point in 4 games, losing just twice to this point.

Goals have been hard to come by, with just 6 goals scored through those 8 games. That said.

Venezuela has been pretty sound on the defensive side of the field, surrendering 7 goals to this point.

They will need that defense to continue to dig deep if they are to stay in the top 6.

Paraguay – 9 Points

Things were looking pretty bleak for Paraguay prior to the previous matchday, but their 1-0 win over Brazil will certainly have them feeling better about their chances of at least getting a playoff spot.

Still, this is a team that cannot seem to find their way to the back of the net, managing just 2 goals through 8 games, while giving up 3.

Their defense will keep them in it, but without offense, a trip to the World Cup looks unlikely.

Bolivia – 9 Points

While there are a few teams in this qualifying group that are having trouble generating goals, that is certainly not the case with Bolivia, as they have 10 through their opening 8 games.

Their issue, though, is that they cannot keep the opposition out, giving up 15 goals in qualifying.

If they can find a way to somehow tighten things up, Bolivia could sneak into the top 7.

Chile – 5 Points

With just 1 win through 8 games, things look to be more than a little bleak for Chile.

They lost both games in the latest round of games, including a home loss to Bolivia, which opened up the gap between themselves and the team they are chasing.

Like a few teams in this group, goals have been hard to come by, and when you add that to a leaky defense, you have a team unlikely to be at the World Cup.

Peru – 3 Points

A recent draw against Colombia would have had some Peru fans believing that perhaps a reversal of fortunes was coming, but they immediately followed that up with a 1-0 loss to Ecuador, which means that Peru remains stuck at the bottom of the group with a meager 3 points.

With zero wins and a mere 2 goals scored through 8 games, you get the feeling that Peru will be officially eliminated sooner rather than later.

¡Posiciones tras la Fecha 8 de las #EliminatoriasSudamericanas! ✍️

Posições após a Rodada 8 das #EliminatoriasSudamericanas! 🔝 pic.twitter.com/KhoOKD1emj

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) September 11, 2024

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