FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifications – Chile vs Colombia
The second round of South American qualifications for the FIFA World Cup in football brings an interesting clash between Chile and Colombia. The host enters this match after a defeat in the first round against Uruguay – 1:3, breaking a streak of 5 games without a loss that had lasted since November 2022. In that match, Chile held the ball for 49% of the time, but Uruguay was more clinical and capitalized on their chances. Arturo Vidal scored a consolation goal for Chileans.
Colombia started well, defeating Venezuela 1:0, with a dominant display, but not very efficient one. Out of 13 shots on the opponent’s goal, only one found the net. The impression is that Colombian players could and should have done more. Nevertheless, they managed to continue its streak which now stands at 5 consecutive victories and a total of 13 matches without a loss, dating back to February 2022 and a loss to Argentina.
What’s typical in matches between Chile and Colombia is that they are usually hard and difficult, with not so many components of attractive football. Out of the last 5 meetings, 4 ended in a draw. Chile has mostly been able to adapt to Colombia’s lively and attacking style of play, slowing down the tempo of the games. With tough matches ahead, the Chileans will be eager to find their rhythm before the continuation of the qualifiers. Additionally, Colombia has been performing well defensively lately. They have kept their goal intact 5 times in their last 7 matches.
If a favorite must be chosen, a slight advantage goes to Colombia. History teaches us not to expect many goals. However, the last two encounters have been different. In the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the matches between these two teams ended with scores of 2:2 and 3:1 in favor of Colombia. It seems that Chile may no longer be as solid in defense as before. Will Colombia confirm this theory?
Wednesday, 2:30 AM (CET), Estadio Monumental David Arellano (Santiago de Chile)
written by: Mladen Radosavljevic