The Uruguay of Marcelo Bielsa qualified for next year’s World Cup by beating Peru 3-0 at home on Thursday, while Colombia Bolivia canceled with the same score.
Paraguay sealed his place in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 home stretch against already qualified Ecuador.
Brazil and reigning champion Argentina had qualified from South America before 2026.
For an expected crowd of 60,000 in a packaged Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Rodrigo Aguirre Bielsa’s Uruguay set up for 14 minutes.
The club America Vooruit jumped the highest to place a thumping header in the top corner along Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
The Uruguayans, winners of the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, only needed a point to qualify and send their charismatic experienced coach Bielsa to the tournament again.
The 70-year-old has now taken a third team to the qualification of the World Cup.
He supervised a shock group stage exit for his native Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, but did better with Chile in 2010, reached the knockout phase before he lost 3-0 to Brazil.
The appointment of Bielsa as Uruguay coach in 2023 was greeted with excitement, even euphoria, but an underwhelming qualifying qualification campaign has tempered that enthusiasm.
Qualification was always in a system that sees six out of 10 Conmebol sides automatically qualify for 2026, with another on the way to an intercontinental play-off.
Giorgian de Arascaeta doubled the lead of the home team just before the hour and got home from close by to guarantee a party atmosphere in the Uruguayan capital.
Federico Vinas scored a third 10 minutes of the time.
Colombia also sealed his place in next summer’s extravaganza thanks to a comfortable victory over Bolivia.
The 34-year-old former attacker of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich James Rodriguez, the Breakout star of the World Cup 2014, was beaten just after half an hour.
Jhon Cordoba ensured that there were no late fears for his goal in the 74th minute, before Juan Fernando Quintero made it three.
Just like Uruguay, Paraguay only needed a draw to qualify when the Ecuador organized. It has done the job while it saved a scoreless stalemate and will be on his ninth world cup.
Published on 05 September 2025
