With Brazil and Argentina having already qualified in style, the South American qualifying competition offered up another exciting matchday that saw two more teams book places at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Argentina and Venezuela complete the matchday on Friday, after which three teams will battle it out in the final round of games to determine who represents the continent against Asian adversaries in June’s intercontinental play-off.

Uruguay’s stop-start campaign reached a turning point when they lost in Bolivia – a result that cost their legendary coach Oscar Tabarez his job and led to the appointment of Diego Alonso. The switch paid immediate dividends, with La Celeste winning their next three matches to make sure of qualification for the fourth time running. The latest of those victories came against Peru at the refurbished Estadio Centenario on Thursday. In an exciting encounter, Ricardo Gareca’s side showed why they are pushing for a place in Qatar, forcing mistakes from the Uruguayan defence that forward Gianluca Lapadula was unable to capitalise on.

With Sergio Rochet excelling between the posts, Uruguay weathered the storm and took the lead on 42 minutes thanks to a Giorgian de Arrascaeta goal. As competitive as ever, Peru kept pushing until the final whistle. Rochet turned in a heroic performance, however, the Nacional keeper doing just enough to keep out a Miguel Trauco effort in a heart-stopping and eventful finale to the game. The three points secured Uruguay World Cup qualification for the fourth time running. Global kings at Uruguay 1930 and Brazil 1950, La Celeste have become a force again in recent times, finishing fourth at South Africa 2010, reaching the Round of 16 at Brazil 2014, and losing to eventual champions France in the quarter-finals at Russia 2018. With a clutch of new faces having joined veterans Diego Godin, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayans have what it takes to excel in Qatar. For their part, Peru will have to wait until the final matchday to find out their fate.

Though Paraguay were already out of the running and had nothing to play for, it pays not to underestimate anyone in the CONMEBOL Zone. Ecuador, who were all but sure of their ticket to Qatar following draws with Brazil and Peru, arrived at the Estadio Antonio Aranda in Ciudad del Este intent on setting the seal on an excellent campaign. Yet aside from confirmation of their ticket to Qatar, nothing went to plan for Gustavo Alfaro’s men, with goals from Robert Morales, Miguel Almiron and a Piero Hincapie own-goal giving the hosts a comfortable 3-1 win. Ecuador at least returned home with the consolation of a place at their fourth World Cup. After missing out on Russia 2018, they were indebted to Alfaro for taking them back to the global stage, one they previously graced at Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014. Ecuador’s final qualifying match, at home to Argentina, will give their talented young squad a chance to celebrate with the fans ahead of the Final Draw for Qatar 2022 on 1 April.

It promises to be an exciting final day in South America. Although the direct qualification places have now been taken, one potential path to Qatar remains: the intercontinental play-off against the fifth-placed team in Asia. Peru, Colombia and Chile are the three teams in contention. The current occupants of the play-off place on 21 points, the Peruvians know that if they beat Paraguay it will be theirs. Ricardo Gareca’s side also finished fifth in the qualifiers for Russia 2018 and secured their berth at the world finals thanks to a play-off win over New Zealand. One point behind them lie Colombia, who ended a run of seven games without a goal by beating Bolivia 3-0. Their final game is against a Venezuela side now under the watchful eye of former Cafetero coach Jose Pekerman. If they are to climb above Peru, the Colombians will need Paraguay to give them a helping hand. A point further behind in seventh, Chile need even more assistance. After suffering a heavy defeat in Brazil, La Roja need to beat Uruguay at home and hope their two rivals for the play-off place fail to win.