The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA, is quickly approaching. The qualification stage is well underway across all continents, delivering thrilling matches and plenty of action for fans and those following Merkur Xtip betting lines. Here’s a recap of the games played in South America and Europe during the first half of September.
South American Qualifiers
The South American qualifiers always feature the same 10 national teams, with six earning direct spots at the World Cup. The seventh-place team secures a berth in the intercontinental playoff, offering another chance to qualify.
The last two rounds in September were highlighted by a fierce battle between Bolivia and Venezuela for that crucial seventh spot.
Second-to-Last Round Results:
- Colombia defeated Bolivia 3-0
- Argentina crushed Venezuela 3-0
- Uruguay dominated Peru with a 3-0 victory
- Paraguay and Ecuador played to a 0-0 draw
- Brazil routed Chile 3-0
Heading into the final round, Venezuela held a one-point advantage over Bolivia. However, Bolivia needed a win because of their inferior goal difference.
Bolivia’s Home Advantage
Bolivia faced the tough task of playing Brazil in the final round. Their hope lay in the extreme altitude of their home stadium, recently upgraded to a staggering 4,150 meters above sea level. This environment has long posed difficulties for visiting teams, and it proved decisive once again.
Bolivia secured a dramatic 1-0 victory with a penalty scored in first-half stoppage time. However, they also needed Venezuela to drop points against Colombia. Despite taking a 2-1 lead in just 12 minutes, Venezuela couldn’t hold on, collapsing in a high-scoring thriller. Colombia won 6-3, a result that was especially exciting for live betting fans.
With this, Bolivia claimed seventh place and a playoff berth.
Other Final Round Results:
- Ecuador upset Argentina 1-0
- Paraguay defeated Peru 1-0
- Chile and Uruguay drew 0-0
Final Standings:
- Argentina – 38 points
- Ecuador – 29 points
3-6. Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay – 28 points each - Bolivia – 20 points (playoff spot)
- Venezuela – 18 points
- Peru – 12 points
- Chile – 11 points
European Qualifiers
Some groups in this qualification cycle feature only four teams, meaning certain nations were playing their first matches, while others continued their campaigns.
Group A
A major shock came early as Slovakia defeated Germany 2-0. This upset opened the door for Slovakia to potentially qualify directly. They also won their second match, sitting at a perfect six points.
Group B
Kosovo stunned Sweden 2-0 in the second round. Sweden had previously drawn 2-2 with Slovenia, setting up a tense battle for the top two spots.
Group C
Denmark overpowered Greece 3-0 on the road, dampening Greek hopes of reaching the World Cup after years of absence.
Group D
Iceland nearly pulled off an upset in France but fell short as the French came back to win 2-1.
Group F
Armenia celebrated a rare official match victory, defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 at home, signaling potential improvement for their national team.
Group H
Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered their first loss at home, falling 2-1 to Austria. Bosnia must now rely on Austria dropping points or pulling off an upset when they visit Austria later.
Group I
Norway remains perfect with all wins so far. Italy stayed in contention for first place by winning an incredible 5-4 away match against Israel — a result that thrilled live betting enthusiasts.
Group K
Serbia narrowly beat Latvia 1-0 away, boosting confidence ahead of their home clash with England.
However, that confidence quickly vanished as a weakened England squad completely outplayed Serbia in Belgrade, winning 5-0. The heavy loss raised serious concerns within the Serbian Football Association about the team’s direction.
Next up is a home match against Albania, which could be pivotal in determining whether changes will be made to the team’s management and strategy moving forward.
