Barranquilla.- Colombia qualified on Thursday to the 2026 World Cup by beating Bolivia 3-0 with a goal from its stainless leader James Rodríguez, who for the third time guides his country to a World Cup event.
With his less skilled leg, the left -hander opened the scoring in the 31st minute in Barranquilla against a Bolivian team that still has options to obtain the quota from the international repet. Jhon Córdoba expanded the difference in 74 and Juan Fernando Quintero sentenced the duel in 83.
The World Cup that will host the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the first for Luis Díaz, which at 28 is enshrined as one of the best ends in the world.
Together with James Rodríguez, scorer of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he will lead a selection with the requirement to overcome the quarterfinals to which he advanced in that same edition, Colombia’s best performance in history.
In the absence of a date to finish the tie, the coffee growers are fifth with 25 points and visit Venezuela on Tuesday.
Bolivia is eighth with 17 units, one less than those that add the Vinotinto, its only competitor in the search for the repechage, and will receive in El Alto the Brazil of Carlo Ancelotti.
Uruguay to his fifth consecutive World Cup
Uruguay qualified for his fifth consecutive World Cup this Thursday by thrawing Peru 3-0 in Montevideo, on the penultimate date of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 tournament.
The overwhelming victory left La Celeste in second place of the Premundial with 27 units and meant the elimination of Peru, with 12 points out of the fight for the seventh place that gives way to a repechage.
Rodrigo Aguirre (14), Giorgian de Arracaeta (58) and Federico Viñas (80) scored the goals of the triumph of those led by Marcelo Bielsa, in a Centennial Stadium that enjoyed the last game of local local in the long South American premundial.
Paraguay returns to a World Cup after 16 years
Paraguay tied 0-0 with Ecuador this Thursday in Asunción and qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America and will return to the soccer summit event after sixteen years of absence.
Before 45,000 spectators at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, in Asunción, the draw unleashed the excitement of players and the public, while thousands of people turned to celebrate in the streets of the city.
Paraguay reached 25 points in the South American Qualifiers, while Ecuador, which was already classified for the World Cup, adds 26 units.
In his last commitment to the extensive premundial, Paraguay will visit Peru in Lima next Tuesday, while the Tricolor will receive the world champion, Argentina, in Guayaquil.
Dream farewell: Messi scores two goals in his latest game of qualifiers in Argentina
The Astro Lionel Messi, star of the Argentine National Team, scored two goals this Thursday in his last official match in his country by qualifiers, cheered by about 80,000 spectators at the Monumental Stadium, on an emotional night that included the triumph of the Albiceleste by 3-0 over Venezuela.
Messi (39 and 80) and Lautaro Martínez (75) scored the goals for the triumph of Argentina, classified for a while ago for the 2026 World Cup, while Venezuela will have a last chance to access the repesca on the last date of the qualification.
With an emergency free Argentina, the spotlights were put on Messi, who at age 38
On the last date, to play on Tuesday 9, Argentina will visit Ecuador, while Venezuela will be local against Colombia in Maturín.
