Overview
- Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay clinched direct World Cup places on Matchday 17, with Uruguay beating Peru 3–0, Colombia topping Bolivia 3–0 and Paraguay drawing 0–0 with Ecuador.
- The standings show Argentina first with 38 points, Venezuela seventh with 18 and Bolivia eighth with 17, while Peru and Chile are out.
- The final round will be played simultaneously Tuesday, with Venezuela hosting Colombia and Bolivia facing Brazil in La Paz to determine the playoff spot.
- Lionel Messi leads the qualifiers’ scoring with eight goals and said he will take his 2026 World Cup availability day by day, and he will be rested for the trip to Ecuador.
- An 85,000‑strong crowd at the Monumental marked Messi’s last official home qualifier, with music icon Charly García among those who greeted him after the match.