South America CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers – Betting Guide & Predictions

🍃To the surprise of absolutely no one, CONMEBOL giants Brazil and Argentina have already secured qualification for Qatar 2022. Brazil will be aiming to win their sixth World Cup crown before manager Tite leaves his post, while Copa America holders Argentina have one last shot at gifting Lionel Messi the ultimate prize in football, one that he richly deserves. This is perhaps the most balanced and cohesive La Albiceleste outfit of the 21st century, and they should certainly be considered as one of the favourites to go all the way later this year. Both sides have gone unbeaten in qualifying through 15 games.

🎉Regarding the remaining two automatic qualification spots, five sides are in contention: Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Chile and Colombia.

Ecuador 🍬are in a brilliant position to qualify automatically, despite only mustering a pair of draws in their two most recent outings. That being said, one was a valuable point against group leaders Brazil. Since falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat in Venezuela last October, Ecuador have enjoyed a five-game unbeaten run, leaving them in third spot with 25 points from 16 games. Their victory over Chile last November was massive to their qualification bid, with the Chileans flagging down in sixth.

Alexis Sanchez’s Chile 🍬just about have a shot of automatic qualification, but they’ll likely be vying for fifth place and an intercontinental play-off spot. A 3-2 victory over Bolivia during the last international break breathed fresh life into their campaign ahead of two difficult bouts against Brazil and Uruguay. The latter currently sit in the final automatic qualification spot, having racked up 22 points. Their recent wins over Paraguay and Venezuela has handed them the advantage over Peru, Chile and Colombia.

▨It’s been a miserable qualifying campaign for 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia. They’ve won just three of their 16 matches thus far, yet they remarkably still have a shot of qualification heading into the final two matchdays. Colombia have two favourable matches to conclude and they could end their 18 games with 23 points, which might be enough. However, they’ll need several results to go their way.

꧃At the very bottom of the table, Bolivia, Paraguay and Venezuela have been eliminated from contention. None of these sides have been abysmal, however, with bottom of the pile Venezuela winning three games on their way to a ten-point haul. Bolivia stunned Uruguay last November, winning 3-0, while Paraguay held Argentina to a stalemate last October. Overall, the CONMEBOL qualifiers have been competitive throughout.

Chile and Colombia🦩 have left themselves with all to do on the final two matchdays if they’re to secure passage into this year’s World Cup. While Colombia should be expected to pick off both Bolivia and Venezuela in their final two games, that likely won’t be enough. Thus, we expect the recent 2014 quarter-finalists to miss out with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Venezuela.

That leaves Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru and Chile❀ fighting for three spots – two being automatic qualification and the other being a place in the intercontinental playoff.

Ecuador should get the point they need away in Paraguay on Matchday 17 to see them qualify automatically. Uruguay and ಞPeru, meanwhile, face off in a huge clash that’ll go a long way to determining the final standings of the CONMEBOL qualification table. In that one-off encounter, we'd back the home side, Uruguay, to get the job done. Their tenacious midfield combined with the veteran quality they possess up top should see them home on the big night.

However, Peru should bounce back at home to Paraguay♔ on Matchday 18 to qualify for the intercontinental playoff in fifth, behind Uruguay in fourth and Ecuador in third.

༒Chile’s tough finale (away at Brazil, home to Uruguay) could culminate in a pair of frustrating draws, which means Colombia may usurp them in the standings.

At the top, Brazil and Argentina will face off🌜 once more following the controversial postponement of their first scheduled fixture in qualifying. Any wise punter knows that’ll end in a stalemate, leaving Brazil as the likely group winners with Lionel Scaloni’s side finishing in second.

𝄹In 2018, Peru qualified for the group stage for the first time since 1982.

𓆉Paraguay failed to qualify for the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups after qualifying for 4 consecutive times.

𝕴Bolivia last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and before that was in 1950.

ꦏEcuador qualified for their first ever FIFA World Cup in 2002.

ꦅBrazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia are the 4 countries to have successfully qualified for the past 2 FIFA World Cups.