The final two rounds of the South American qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ begin with two teams already through and another six fighting for either direct qualification or the region’s play-off berth. Brazil and Argentina can already look ahead to Qatar, while any three of Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Bolivia could still join them. Best placed are Uruguay and Ecuador, who could stamp their tickets to Qatar as early as this Thursday, but Peru, Chile and Colombia also have a chance of direct qualification. Bolivia, in contrast, can no longer aspire to that but still have a slim chance of securing the inter-continental play-off berth that comes with fifth place. Paraguay and Venezuela have already been eliminated.

Thursday, 24 March Uruguay-Peru Colombia-Bolivia Brazil-Chile Paraguay-Ecuador Friday, 25 March Argentina-Venezuela Tuesday, 29 March Peru-Paraguay Venezuela-Colombia Bolivia-Brazil Chile-Uruguay Ecuador-Argentina

Ecuador need just one point to ensure qualification without depending on others. La Tri will be hoping to get that on the next matchday against Paraguay but could even book their places with a defeat, if Uruguay beat Peru and Chile fail to take all three points against Brazil. Uruguay could also join them on the plane to Qatar if they beat Peru and Chile fail to overcome Brazil.

Fifth-placed Peru also control their own fate and have a chance to move into the automatic qualifying berths when they visit the team directly above them, Uruguay, on the penultimate matchday. Chile, on the other hand, will need to rewrite history to have a realistic chance of getting to Qatar. Currently in sixth, La Roja next travel to the Maracana to take on Brazil, a team they have never scored against away from home in the history of these qualifiers. The penultimate matchday also features the meeting of Colombia and Bolivia, seventh and eighth respectively, in what is a must-win game for both side’s Qatar aspirations.

"When I hang up my boots, I'd like to coach the national team, God willing. It’s something I have very much in mind. With everything I've experienced with the national team, I want to explain to the players about the motivation and who they represent when they pull on this shirt. Not just 10 million fans, but an entire country." Arturo Vidal [TNT Sports]

5 The number of goals Brazil have conceded in 15 qualifying fixtures. The record for the fewest goals conceded since the 18-game format was introduced is held by the Brazilians themselves, who shipped 11 goals in qualifying for the 2010 and 2018 World Cups.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, Argentina accrued 43 points in the Korea/Japan 2002 qualifiers, the highest points tally in the competition's history. That record could now be broken if Brazil win two of their remaining three matches.