• Uruguay achieved a crucial 2-0 victory over Venezuela, advancing towards World Cup qualification.
• Brazil and Ecuador both qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, furthering their standings in the qualifiers.
• Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored for Uruguay, aiding in their bid for the tournament.
• Colombia and Paraguay remain in contention for qualification as the final matches approach.

Uruguay moved closer to securing a place in the 2026 World Cup finals with a convincing 2-0 victory over Venezuela at the Estadio Centenario. This win snapped a four-match winless streak in South American qualifiers, bolstering their chances for direct qualification. The match featured goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian De Arrascaeta, putting Uruguay at a total of 24 points, just one behind Paraguay and Ecuador, who are both on 25 points, ahead of the final qualifying fixtures, according to channelnewsasia, Reuters, and Dawn.

Brazil and Ecuador both solidified their places in the World Cup with significant results during the same round of qualifiers. Brazil claimed a 1-0 victory against Paraguay, thanks to a goal from Vinicius Junior, marking a successful home debut for their new coach Carlo Ancelotti. Ecuador managed to secure their qualification by drawing 0-0 with Peru, ensuring they would participate in their second consecutive World Cup. The standings reflect Brazil and Ecuador at 25 points each, now safely out of reach for Venezuela, currently in seventh place with 18 points, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Uruguay's win over Venezuela is particularly vital as they previously struggled in the qualifiers. Aguirre opened the scoring just before halftime, followed by De Arrascaeta extending the lead shortly after the second half began. This victory guarantees Uruguay at least a playoff spot against a team from another confederation, with their next matches against Peru and Chile, where they need just one point to secure direct qualification, according to channelnewsasia, Reuters, and Dawn.

Other teams in contention include Paraguay and Colombia, who also aim for the final spots in the tournament. Paraguay remains competitive with 24 points while Colombia trails with 22. The intensity of the qualification matches is set to heighten as only a few games remain in the schedule, solidifying the stakes for all teams involved, according to Reuters and Dawn.