Upon the arrival of the Argentina national team in Venezuela, the customary fervor and anticipation envelop Lionel Messi, attracting dozens of enthusiastic fans who eagerly gather to welcome the team.
Argentina arrive in Venezuela after Hurricane Milton scare_ as Brazil need upturn in form
With Lionel Messi back after missing the previous two games through injury, Argentina will be hoping to put their defeat to Colombia behind them and get back to winning ways on Thursday when they take on Venezuela away in the ninth game of South American World Cup 2026 qualifying.
Messi, 37, has missed the past two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to an ankle ligament injury suffered in the Copa America final against Colombia in mid-July.
At the end of August, after six weeks on the sidelines, Messi returned to Inter Miami and has been in good form in the games he has played since being medically cleared.
Venezuela, the only South American team never to have played in a World Cup, is in sixth place with 10 points on its tally, similar to fifth-placed Brazil, which has a better goal difference.
Argentina currently leads with 18 points, with Colombia closely following in second place after securing a 2-1 victory over the Albiceleste. Ecuador holds fourth place with 11 points following a 1-0 win over Peru.
The top six teams in the South American qualifiers will secure a direct spot in the World Cup. The seventh-placed team will have to battle it out in a play-off against a team from another confederation for a chance to qualify.
The Brazil national team arrived in Santiago de Chile on the 9th night, after their last training session in Sao Paulo.
Chile and Brazil meet on Thursday in a match where both are obliged to win to avoid complications on their way to the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to their poor run of form, the two sides also share a squad plagued by injuries, which has added further concern to an already difficult scenario.
Chile has struggled to find their feet and is still languishing at the second bottom of the table with just five points. They have lost four of their last five matches.
Brazil are in an uncomfortable fifth position with 10 points in the table. They must improve their performance, as only the top six teams will earn a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-placed team will have to play in a play-off.
