With all its intensity, the South American World Cup qualifiers return in 2025. This time there is an additional ingredient to give more attraction to what is considered the most disputed of all the classifying rounds to the World Cup.
The drama will reach its maximum expression in the absence of six dates for the closure of the qualifiers that put into play six direct quotas and a repechage.
The March program will mark the return of Neymar and the possible clash against his endearing friend and excommunicero with Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, Lionel Messi, in the Argentine meeting vs. Brazil.
There will also be an opportunity to see in action the young promises, such as the Brazilian Stevao, 17 years old, hired by English Chelsea to Palmeiras de Sao Paulo for 61.5 million euros; The Paraguayan Julio Enciso, 20, comes from scoring the goal of the 2-2 draw against Bolivia In the last minute to more than 4,000 meters above sea level; and the Venezuelan Tlasco Segovia, who is on with the Inter Miami of Messi.
Neymar’s return
Neymar’s return, after breaking the anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus in the 2-0 defeat against Uruguay in October 2023, is very significant for Brazil.
Since then, the world pentacampeón walked to the tumbos: he lost against Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay and tied with Venezuela and Uruguay. Now he marches in an awkward fifth place with 18 points, just five from Bolivia located in the seventh place.
With Neymar, the coach of the Canarinha, Junior Dorival, can form a demonized attack next to Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Raphinha and Stevao.
The event of Neymar’s return occurs just at the time when the qualifiers calendar marks the clash between Argentina and Brazil in Buenos Aires.
The Albiceleste, leader of the classification with 25 points, is virtually in the 2026 World Cup, but never a clash against the Auriverdes is a friendly and Messi will not want to lose against his former club of clubs.
According to Inter Miami reports, Messi suffers from muscle fatigue, but the Argentine national team never fails; And if it feels that it is not in a optimal state it will go to the bank.
Messi struggles for history
Messi pursues, among others, the top scorer’s record of all the World Cup qualifiers, which is held by the Guatemalan Carlos “Pescadito” Ruiz, with 39 goals. The Argentine has 34 and is the one that most times participated with 69.
The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo surpasses him with two more goals, but Messi is above the Polish Robert Lewandowski, who has been 30.
Many think that with the classification in the hand, the albiceleste will not risk the qualifiers.
It is not so.
For Argentina it is always important to win and maintain its first place in the FIFA ranking. The governing body of football takes into account that list when doing the sown and designating the group heads for the World Cup raffle.
Dates 13 and 14 of the qualifiers, to be played in March, must clarify the panorama a little more. Everything indicates that Argentina at the top, followed by Uruguay with 20 points; and Ecuador and Colombia, with 19 each, will get into the cup.
Brazil by history should not fail; Paraguay with 17 units hopes to consolidate its recovery. Bolivia with 13, Venezuela with 12 and Chile with nine struggle to reach the repechage and Peru barely with seven points seems definitely condemned to think about the 1930 World Cup.
In the ranking of the FIFA, Brazil Fifth Figure, then Uruguay (11), Colombia (12) and Ecuador (24) come. They all intend to ensure the classification and then have a good place in the 2026 World Cup raffle.
Date 13
Thursday, March 20
Asunción, Paraguay vs. Chili
Brasilia, Brazil vs. Colombia
Lima, Peru vs. Bolivia
Friday, March 21
Quito, Ecuador vs. Venezuela
Montevideo, Uruguay vs. Argentina.
Friday, March 25
El Alto, Bolivia and Uruguay
Maturín, Venezuela vs. Peru
Barranquilla, Colombia vs. Paraguay
Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Brazil
Santiago, Chile vs. Ecuador
