IFFHS CONTINENTAL STATS - WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFIERS SOUTH AMERICA
Statistics on WC 2026 qualifiers in South America (match-day 15)
*This match-day brought only 5 goals in 5 games, the smallest rate in a South American Qualifiers match-day since the 2010 edition (Perú vs Bolivia 1-0, Brasil vs Venezuela 0-0, Chile vs Ecuador 1-0, Uruguay vs Argentina 0-1, Paraguay vs Colombia 0-2).
Ecuador vs Brazil 0-0
*Carlo Ancelotti became the third Italian coach in the history of the South American Qualifiers, following Vessilio Bártoli, who managed Paraguay in 1954, and Omar Sívori (an Argentinian naturalized Italian), who led Argentina in 1973.
*Ecuador have conceded only 1 goal in their last 7 home qualifiers.
Paraguay vs Uruguay 2-0
*Gustavo Alfaro is the 4th Paraguay coach to win his first 5 home matches in the South American Qualifiers, following Gerardo Martino (5 wins between 2007 and 2008), Sergio Markarián (7 wins between 2000 and 2001), and Paulo César Carpegiani (5 wins in 1995).
*Paraguay have last won 5 home qualifiers in a row in 2008.
*Alfaro remains undefeated at his current job with Paraguay: 5 wins and 4 draws in 9 matches.
*Uruguay have only won 1 of their last 9 matches (against Colombia, thanks to a goal in the 90'+11'). This is the worst such spell La Celeste ever experienced in the history of Qualifiers.
*Paraguay have beaten Uruguay in a qualifier for the first time in 18 years, after a run of 9 winless games in this rivalry. Last win of the Albirroja against Uruguay was on 17 October 2007 (1-0 at home).
Chile vs Argentina 0-1
*Argentina secured first place in the South American Qualifiers for the third time in XXI century, following the 2002 and 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
*Julián Álvarez has scored goals for Argentina in consecutive matches (vs Brazil and vs Chile) for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, when he scored against Poland and Australia.
*Franco Mastantuono became the youngest player in the history of Argentine national team to appear in a competitive match (17 years, 274 days).
Including friendlies, he's 6th on a list headed by Diego Maradona (16 years 92 days).
*Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone started both for, 27 years after their fathers, Pablo and Diego, respectively, last played together in a starting lineup for La Albiceleste in May 1998, in a friendly against South Africa.
Venezuela vs Bolivia 2-0
*Salomon Rondon (PICTURE) has equaled his record for goals in a single knockout round (5, as in 2014). Only two Venezuelan players have scored 6 goals in a knockout round: Ruberth Morán (2006) and Giancarlo Maldonado (2010).
Colombia vs Peru 0-0
*Peru haven't scored away in World Cup Qualifiers for over 3 years, since the game in Colombia on 28 January 2022.
They have gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring away in World Cup Qualifiers; it’s joint second longest such series in the history of tournament, level with Venezuela (1965 to 1985) and behind Paraguay (12 games in 2021-2024).