Qualification for 2026 FIFA World Cup continues in South America as Friday night turns into Saturday with Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia all in action.
Get the coffee freshly brewed though, folks, as these games don’t kick-off until the very early hours of Saturday morning.
Football Betting Tips
00:30 – Uruguay v Paraguay
Uruguay to win
Luis Suarez to score anytime
02:00 – Brazil v Ecuador
Brazil to win and over 2.5 goals
Vinicius Junior to score anytime
02:30 – Peru v Colombia
Luis Diaz to score anytime
- The above five bets combine into a Paddy Power Multi-Match Bet Builder at approximately 30/1. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Uruguay v Paraguay
WHAT: 2026 World Cup qualifier
WHEN: Saturday, 12:30am
WHERE: Estadio Centenariol, Montevideo
TV: N/A
Uruguay to win
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup moves into the second block of matches in South America before the end of 2024. Each nation will play six games before the end of the year, with two each in September, October and November.
Uruguay are in a strong position to ease over the line in CONMEBOL, as they sit second in the group, with four wins from six qualifiers and lost out to Colombia in the semi finals of the Copa America this summer.
They won all three of their home qualifiers in 2023, and Paraguay failed to win any of their three away ties, meaning the hosts will be strongly backed to win in Montevideo.
Luis Suarez to score
Luis Suarez confirmed he will step down from Uruguay duty after this game following a tearful statement on his future. Suarez bows out as Uruguay’s record international goal scorer, with 69 goals, and he will be determined to at least make it 70 before the final whistle.
Injury limited his role at the Copa America, with just one goal scored, but it looks written in the stars and he comes into the game with four goals in his last two appearances for Inter Miami.
Brazil v Ecuador
WHAT: 2026 World Cup qualifier
WHEN: Saturday, 2:00am
WHERE: Estadio Couto Pereira, Curitiba
TV: Premier Sports 1
Brazil to win and over 2.5 goals
Brazil will want to kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on the best note possible, and a win against Ecuador would be just that. Dorival Junior’s side didn’t have the best Copa America in the summer, and they will be determined to draw a line under that with a win here. Boasting Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Endrick going forward, you can expect goals in this one.
Ecuador reached the quarter-finals of the Copa America before being eliminated by eventual champions Argentina on penalties. With Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, and young forward Kendry Paez on the pitch, Ecuador could cause Brazil some problems and may grab a goal. However, their deficiencies in defence could cost them, as they have only kept two clean sheets in 2024.
Vinicius Junior to score
Vinicius Junior is the favourite to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or after FIFA announced the nominees earlier this week, and it would be typical of the Brazilian winger to cap that news off with a goal. The Real Madrid star bagged two goals in a 4-1 win over Paraguay at the Copa America and has one in La Liga this season.
Ecuador have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight games, so he will get ample opportunities to score. With his talent and accuracy, you would back Vinicius Junior to find the net, given half a chance.
Peru v Colombia
WHAT: 2026 World Cup qualifier
WHEN: Saturday, 2:00am
WHERE: Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima
TV: N/A
Luis Diaz to score
Luis Dias has begun the 2024/25 season on fire by scoring three goals in three games, including a brace in a 3-0 win over Manchester United last weekend. This follows the two goals he secured in the 2024 Copa America, which helped Colombia reach the semi-final. The Liverpool forward will have a great chance of continuing this form against a struggling Peru.
In the summer, Peru endured a disappointing Copa America, exiting the group stages without scoring a single goal. They will have their work cut out against a much better Colombian side that will get plenty of opportunities to score if they’re at their best.
South America Football Betting Tips
00:30 – Uruguay v Paraguay
Uruguay to win
Luis Suarez to score anytime
02:00 – Brazil v Ecuador
Brazil to win and over 2.5 goals
Vinicius Junior to score anytime
02:30 – Peru v Colombia
Luis Diaz to score anytime
- A Multi-Match Builder with these bets pays at approximately 30/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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