The summer season of soccer is nearly full. Right here’s what’s subsequent for these three South American groups forward of World Cup 2026

In what was a summer season of soccer, the 2024 Copa America is only one of many tournaments that at the moment are full, with Argentina topped because the reigning South American champion.

The main target of CONMEBOL, the federation for South American soccer, now shifts to the subsequent two years in what is probably going probably the most grueling World Cup qualifying on the planet.

With groups taking part in 18 matches stretching over the subsequent two and a half years, South America’s qualifying route is brutal and usually triggered some massive groups to probably be left on the skin trying in on the FIFA World Cup.

FIFA’s World Cup in 2026 would be the first to have 48 groups within the discipline, which provides much more South American groups an opportunity to be part of the largest sporting occasion ever.

Regardless of the match’s enlargement and the variety of CONMEBOL groups that qualify growing, World Cup qualifying continues to be a journey. Right here’s a have a look at the present standings, which incorporates the three factors docked from Ecuador’s whole as a consequence of their use of an ineligible participant within the final cycle.

these standings, three groups stand to have an fascinating couple of years primarily based on their efficiency on the Copa América as they search to return to the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.

Photograph by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Pictures

Brazil

Brazil exited Copa América within the quarterfinals, shedding to Uruguay on penalties. The crew on paper has a ton of expertise, together with attacking gamers like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Endrick. Alisson Becker holds down the fort in purpose, they usually simply have family names at nearly each place.

So, why the struggles at Copa América?

They simply weren’t in a position to absolutely play to the excessive requirements soccer followers are used to seeing. Now, they resume World Cup qualifying the place they’ve fared worse, at the moment sitting sixth within the standings with a shedding document.

Surprisingly, the entire nation is in a just like that of the US, trying to determine what their fashion of play needs to be and whether or not the present participant pool is able to inspiring the nation as they chase what can be a sixth World Cup title. Additionally they have cycled via coaches, with nobody seemingly in a position to repair their points.

Brazil is at an actual crossroads. They’ve by no means missed a World Cup, they usually don’t wish to begin now in what can be the most important match discipline. And the final time the World Cup was in the US in 1994, Brazil lifted the trophy for the fourth time.

Basically, Brazil want its stars to start out taking part in like stars on the worldwide stage on the offensive finish they usually must play higher protection in the event that they wish to actually be seen as a contender in 2026.

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Colombia

Colombia’s run to the Copa América closing was nothing in need of inspirational. Using an unbeaten streak that dated again to February 2022, Colombia’s run ended at 28 straight matches within the loss to Argentina. In reality, the bookends of The Streak had been 1-0 losses to Argentina on a Lautaro Martinez purpose.

So, Colombia needs to be ecstatic at how far they’ve come and their probabilities of being seen as a critical contender on the World Cup.

Thus far, they’re unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, at the moment sitting in third place inside CONMEBOL’s desk. And, they’ve discovered a number of gamers who’re taking part in unbelievable soccer at this level. They most likely didn’t rely on the rejuvenation of captain James Rodriguez to assist them throughout Copa América, however now that it has occurred, they’ve to be ok with their probabilities of being profitable throughout the remainder of qualifying. If they’ll proceed to play at this elite degree, the world ought to take into account themselves on discover that Los Cafeteros are coming for all of it.

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Uruguay

Uruguay completed the Copa América in third place, shedding to Colombia within the semifinals after which coming again to beat Canada on penalties within the third Place match. They might must take care of some fallout from the melee that ensued after the top of the semifinal match towards Colombia that noticed Uruguayan gamers run into the stands to combat Colombian followers who had been messing with their households.

Nonetheless, they’re in fine condition as they resume FIFA World Cup qualifying.

They at the moment stand in second place within the desk, and the good factor for head coach Marcelo Bielsa is that Uruguay has quietly rebuilt itself right into a machine. Of the gamers on the Copa América roster, solely Luis Suarez is over 31 years outdated, and at age 37, it’s exhausting to think about that he might be on the crew in 2026.

There are 14 gamers on Uruguay’s roster who’re 25 or youthful, together with stars Darwin Núñez and Federico Valverde, and that younger corps is constructing the expertise they must be able to make a run in 2026. They nonetheless want to complete out World Cup qualifying, but when they continue to be wholesome, Uruguay could emerge as one of many groups that the remainder of the sector is aware of might be an issue.