Argentina leads CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying for the 2026 tournament is well underway. Teams are competing in a round-robin format, where each of the 10 member nations will play a total of 18 matches. Argentina currently leads the group, despite a recent loss to Colombia. Colombia is in second place and looks strong for qualification. Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, is struggling. They won against Ecuador but lost to Paraguay, placing them fifth in the standings after eight matches. Their recent win over Chile has raised hopes that they can still qualify. There are six automatic spots available for the tournament, along with one playoff spot, making every match important. Points are awarded during this qualifying round: three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The top six teams from the CONMEBOL group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the seventh team will enter a playoff. All teams aim to secure as many points as possible, as close competition makes it tough to advance. In the current standings, Argentina leads with 25 points, followed by Uruguay with 20. Ecuador and Colombia each have 19 points. Brazil, with 18 points, will need to improve their performance to ensure they qualify. The competition remains intense as each match can change the fate of the teams involved.