All 10 national teams in South America will play their second World Cup qualifying games on Tuesday.
The 2026 edition of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format. The top six teams in South America will secure a direct spot. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told a news conference he will have against Bolivia a very similar lineup to the one that beat Ecuador on Thursday. Messi’s presence, however, could be decided hours before kick off.
“If all is well, the idea is to repeat or see some changes, which could be these two entering,” the coach said. “There is a chance they will play, but we can make the decision on the morning before the match.” Sunday’s training suggests Diniz will make no changes to play against Peru, which drew its opening match at Paraguay.
Neymar, who until last Friday had not played since February, showed he has recovered with two goals that helped him break Pelé's record as Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer.Ecuador’s new coach Félix Sánchez Bas was happy to defend at Argentina, but playing at home against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay he will have to push forward so his team has a chance to erase its three-point deficit in the standings.