Thanks to a heroic reaction in overtime from Argentina, the American continent has a presence in the semifinals in the nine World Cups in which it has hosted.
That can also serve as a reflection of an opaque performance by South America, which arrived at the 2026 Cup with six teams and many hopes.
When push came to shove, the teams – except Argentina – did not rise to the occasion.
CONCACAF, for its part, complied only half-heartedly, especially the hosts.
Mexico reached the long-awaited fifth game in the World Cup, the United States deflated after having raised expectations in the first round and Canada performed what was expected.
The other three, Haiti, Curacao and Panama, contributed only enthusiasm
The disappointments
Brazil is no longer what it used to be. Nor does it have the figures that once imposed the “beautiful game.” And as a consequence of this, the results that elevated him as a universal football power do not arrive.
We had just seen clear proof of this in the 2026 World Cup. The five-time champions were defeated 2-1 by Norway and, for the first time in their history, they went six editions without winning the top football title.
In desperation over this drought, Brazilian managers had broken with tradition and hired a foreign coach to lead their team, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti. They couldn’t with him either. Everything indicates that the problem lies elsewhere.
Over the years and in each of her national teams, the auriverde brightened the fields with her ball dancers. It was a party, a hymn to skill and imagination. There were Pelé, Garrincha, Jairzinho, Zico, Falcao, Romario, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and the last of the geniuses, Neymar, who arrived injured and after the debacle announced his retirement from the green and yellow.
Something is happening with the training of talents in Brazil. Surely everyone focuses on the search for athletes who impose their physical strength above any other ability. When it comes to calling a team, there are plenty of powerful players and few creative ones.
Since becoming champion in Japan-South Korea in 2002, Brazil has only qualified for one semifinal in its participation in the following six World Cups. It was in their own home in 2014 and they fell 7-1 against Germany in the worst defeat in their history.
It is paradoxical that at the club level it maintains supremacy and that the last seven champions of the Copa Libertadores, the most important club tournament in South America, have been Brazilians. This can be explained by their greater economic power that allows them to hire the best soccer players in the region.
Many ups and downs
The disappointment in 2026 was not only for the former Auriverde team, who used to dazzle with the “beautiful game.” Two-time champion Uruguay, for its part, was the only South American country that did not make it through the first round. Their performance was poor and coach Marcelo Bielsa was blamed for the failure.
Ecuador, on the other hand, advanced to the round of 32 after a miraculous victory over Germany. Many said that it was the best team in its history, that it had a golden generation and that they would reach the final. The middle of the world squad, however, disappointed and was defeated by Mexico in the first knockout match and their dreams were over.
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay passed the round of 32, but except for the albiceleste, the other three were eliminated in the next stage. Argentina reached the quarterfinals after an incredible comeback against Egypt and the semifinals after beating Switzerland in extra time.
In short, an opaque performance by South America in 2026. In the nine editions of the World Cup held on the American continent, two South American teams entered the semifinals on seven occasions, and only in the 1994 United States edition only one qualified, Brazil, which was ultimately champion.
