By Louis Smith.

288 days from the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup that saw Argentina crowned World Champions for a third time in Qatar, CONMEBOL Nations are set to do it all over again as the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers commence.

Argentina

Argentina begin their World Cup defence at River Plate Estadio Monumental, before a trip to La Paz as they take on Bolivia in tricky conditions. They are unbeaten in their last ten matches since losing to Saudi Arabia on matchday one of the 2022 World Cup.

Lucas Beltrán and Walter Benítez could be in line for their debuts, along with Athletico Paranaense duo Lucas Esquivel and Bruno Zapelli.

Franco Armani is the only domestic-based player in the squad.

Argentina Squad

Goalkeepers:
Emiliano Martínez, Franco Armani, Juan Musso, Walter Benítez

Defenders:
Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Germán Pezzella, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Juan Foyth, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina, Marcos Senesi, Lucas Esquivel

Midfielders:
Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodríguez, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Thiago Almada, Facundo Buonanotte, Bruno Zapelli

Forwards:
Lionel Messi (captain), Ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez, Nicolás González, Ángel Correa, Julián Álvarez, Alejandro Garnacho, Lucas Beltrán, Alan Velasco

Bolivia

Gustavo Costas is the man tasked with trying to lead Bolivia to their first World Cup Finals since USA 1994. This is Costas’ first job in International management.

Efrain Morales, Bruno Poveda, José Briceño, José Alipaz, Fabricio Quaglio, Eduardo Álvarez, Andrés Moreno, Kevin Salvatierra, Mauricio Adorno, Jairo Velasco, Carlos Abastoflor, Yomar Rocha, Ervin Vaca, Javier Uzeda, Miguel Villarroel, Braulio Uraezaña, Denilson Durán, César Romero, Saúl Severiche, Carlos Sejas and Marco Salazar could earn their first cap.

Bolivia Squad

Goalkeepers:
Carlos Lampe, Guillermo Viscarra, Mauricio Adorno, Bruno Poveda, Braulio Uraezaña

Defenders:
José Sagredo, Diego Bejarano, Adrián Jusino, Roberto Fernández, Luis Haquin, Jairo Quinteros, Diego Medina, Carlos Roca, Marcelo Suárez, Héctor Cuéllar, Pablo Vaca, Eduardo Álvarez, Denilson Durán, Efrain Morales, Yomar Rocha, César Romero, Saúl Severiche, Jairo Velasco

Midfielders:
Fernando Saucedo, Moisés Villarroel, Jaime Arrascaita, Boris Céspedes, Gabriel Villamil, Luciano Ursino, Carlos Abastoflor, Andrés Moreno, Marco Salazar, Kevin Salvatierra, Carlos Sejas, Ervin Vaca

Forwards:
Marcelo Martins (captain), Carmelo Algarañaz, Víctor Ábrego, Miguel Terceros, Jaume Cuéllar, José Martínez, Enzo Monteiro, Fernando Nava, José Alipaz, José Briceño, Fabricio Quaglio, Javier Uzeda, Miguel Villarroel

Brazil

After a shootout heartbreak in Qatar in the Quarter-Finals, the wait for Brazil’s ‘Hexa’ goes on. Carlo Ancelotti will join up with Seleção in June 2024 and in the meantime, we will be treated to some organized chaos from Fluminense manager, Fernando Diniz, who takes interim charge.

Brazil open with a home fixture against Bolivia at the Mangueirão, a stadium they haven’t played at since 28 September 2011.

Diniz has called up four players who play in the Brasileirão, they include Lucas Perri, Nino, Raphael Veiga and André.

Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães is expected to earn his first International Cap.

Brazil Squad

Goalkeepers:
Alisson, Ederson, Lucas Perri

Defenders:
Marquinhos (vice-captain), Danilo, Renan Lodi, Roger Ibañez, Vanderson, Caio Henrique, Gabriel Magalhães, Nino

Midfielders:
Casemiro (captain), Bruno Guimarães, Raphael Veiga, Joelinton, André

Forwards:
Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli

Chile

Chile have a new leader in Eduardo Berizzo who will be hoping for a better time than he had with Paraguay during the previous qualifying campaign. Chile will also be eager to hit the ground running after missing out on a place in Qatar with a seventh-place finish, their second straight World Cup Finals qualification failure.

The experienced Claudio Bravo misses out due to injury.

Chile’s domestic-based players called up include; Cristóbal Campos, Lucas Assadi, Jeison Fuentealba, Alexander Aravena, Clemente Montes, César Pérez, Jonathan Villagra, Felipe Chamorro, Diego Carreño, Antonio Díaz, Moisés González, Alfred Canales, Julián Alfaro, Maximiliano Guerrero, Felipe Loyola, Brayan Cortés, Daniel Gutiérrez, Vicente Pizarro and Marcos Bolados.

Chile Squad

Goalkeepers:
Gabriel Arias, Brayan Cortés, Cristóbal Campos, Tomás Ahumada, Diego Carreño

Defenders:
Gary Medel, Guillermo Maripán, Gabriel Suazo, Juan Delgado, Benjamín Kuscevic, Nayel Mehssatou, Guillermo Soto, Matías Catalán, Antonio Díaz, Thomas Galdames, Moisés González, Daniel Gutiérrez, Felipe Loyola, Jonathan Villagra

Midfielders:
Arturo Vidal, Charles Aránguiz, Erick Pulgar, Diego Valdés, Marcelino Núñez, Felipe Méndez, Williams Alarcón, Darío Osorio, Rodrigo Echeverría, Lucas Assadi, Alfred Canales, Felipe Chamorro, Jeison Fuentealba, César Pérez, Vicente Pizarro

Forwards:
Alexis Sánchez, Ben Brereton Díaz, Marcos Bolados, Alexander Aravena, Clemente Montes, Julián Alfaro, Maximiliano Guerrero

Colombia

It was heartbreak for Colombia last time out, as they finished outside of the qualifying places and had to watch the World Cup from their TV screens.

Néstor Lorenzo is now the man in charge of Colombia and has enjoyed a decent start with six wins and two draws, including an impressive 2-0 victory over Germany away from home.

Despite being in charge for just over a year, Lorenzo will take charge of his first game in Colombia when they host Venezuela.

Three potential debuts include; Richard Ríos, Devis Vásquez and Jhon Córdoba, whilst Álvaro Montero is the only domestic-based player within the 26 man-squad.

Colombia Squad

Goalkeepers:
Camilo Vargas, Álvaro Montero, Devis Vásquez

Defenders:
Davinson Sánchez, Santiago Arias, Yerry Mina, Johan Mojica, Daniel Muñoz, Jhon Lucumí, Carlos Cuesta, Deiver Machado

Midfielders:
Juan Cuadrado, James Rodríguez, Wilmar Barrios, Mateus Uribe, Jefferson Lerma, Juan Fernando Quintero, Jorge Carrascal, Jhon Arias, Richard Ríos

Forwards:
Luis Díaz, Rafael Santos Borré, Luis Sinisterra, Jhon Durán, Mateo Cassierra, Jhon Córdoba

Ecuador

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was a great learning curve for a young talented Ecuadorian Squad who will be looking to kick on in the upcoming campaign.

The manager of the host nation at the previous World Cup, Félix Sánchez, has taken the reign at Ecuador and will be hoping to hit the ground running.

Moisés Caicedo will play for the national team since becoming the most expensive player in British football.

His former club, Independiente del Valle, have seen five of their players called up, including 16-year-old Kendry Páez.

Ecuador Squad

Goalkeepers:
Alexander Domínguez, Hernán Galíndez, Moisés Ramírez

Defenders:
Pervis Estupiñán, Robert Arboleda, Ángelo Preciado, Félix Torres, Willian Pacho, José Hurtado, Jhoanner Chávez, Leonardo Realpe, Joel Ordóñez

Midfielders:
Ángel Mena, Carlos Gruezo, Gonzalo Plata, Moisés Caicedo, José Cifuentes, Jordy Alcívar, Joao Ortiz, Kendry Páez

Forwards:
Enner Valencia, Jhojan Julio, Kevin Rodríguez

Paraguay

Despite not qualifying for a World Cup since 2010, Paraguay is full of excitement for the upcoming qualification campaign, as their opening match against Peru at Estadio Antonio Aranda in Ciudad del Este is a sell-out.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the man at the helm of La Albirroja.

Mathías Espinoza and Carlos Coronel are potential debutants.

The domestic players include three from Club Olimpia; Juan Espínola, Mateo Gamarra and Richard Ortiz and three from Champions Club Libertad; Mathías Espinoza, Álvaro Campuzano, Iván Piris.

Julio Enciso misses out due to injury.

Paraguay Squad

Goalkeepers:
Santiago Rojas, Juan Espínola, Carlos Coronel

Defenders:
Gustavo Gómez (captain), Júnior Alonso, Iván Piris, Fabián Balbuena, Robert Rojas, Omar Alderete, Blas Riveros, Mateo Gamarra, Mathías Espinoza

Midfielders:
Miguel Almirón, Richard Ortiz, Richard Sánchez, Mathías Villasanti, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Matías Rojas, Andrés Cubas, Jesús Medina, Braian Ojeda, Diego Gómez, Álvaro Campuzano

Forwards:
Carlos González, Gabriel Ávalos, Robert Morales, Ramón Sosa

Peru

Peru made it through the gruelling South American Qualifiers, only to be denied a place in the World Cup Finals after losing to Australia on Penalties in the playoffs.

Juan Reynoso is the new manager tasked with guiding Peru to the 2026 World Cup. As a player, Reynoso netted five international goals and made 84 appearances.

Renato Solís, Jostin Alarcón, Jhamir D’Arrigo, and Joao Grimaldo are all domestic-based and will earn their first cap if they feature. In total, Peru’s squad features 11 players from Peru’s top flight.

Peru Squad

Goalkeepers:
Pedro Gallese, Carlos Cáceda, Renato Solís

Defenders:
Luis Advíncula, Miguel Trauco, Aldo Corzo, Alexander Callens, Luis Abram, Miguel Araujo, Marcos López, Carlos Ascues

Midfielders:
Yoshimar Yotún, Renato Tapia, Christofer Gonzáles, Sergio Peña, Wilder Cartagena, Jesús Castillo, Piero Quispe

Forwards:
Paolo Guerrero (captain), André Carrillo, Raúl Ruidíaz, Andy Polo, Alex Valera, Jostin Alarcón, Jhamir D’Arrigo, Joao Grimaldo

Uruguay

Everyone’s eyes across the footballing world will be on Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay.

The bucket, the crazy attack-minded formation and Darwin Nunez add to an intriguing new era for La Celeste who are likely going to be far more entertaining than what they showed in Qatar, where they suffered a shock group stage exit.

There are no domestic-based players among Bielsa’s 25-man squad, as well as, no place for Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani as the Argentine looks to the new generation.

The only potential debutant is 21-year-old Cristian Olivera who has recently joined MLS side LAFC.

Uruguay Squad

Goalkeeper: Sergio Rochet, Santiago Mele, Franco Israel

Defender: Matías Viña, Mathías Olivera, Joaquín Piquerez, Bruno Méndez, Sebastián Cáceres, Santiago Bueno, José Luis Rodríguez, Lucas Olaza

Midfielder: Federico Valverde, Nahitan Nández, Nicolás de la Cruz, Manuel Ugarte, Felipe Carballo, Maximiliano Araújo, Emiliano Martínez

Forward: Maxi Gómez, Brian Rodríguez, Darwin Núñez, Facundo Torres, Facundo Pellistri, Agustín Canobbio, Cristian Olivera

Venezuela

Venezuela will be hoping it’s 15th time lucky as their previous 14 campaigns have ended without qualification to football’s biggest stage, making them the only CONMEBOL side not to feature at a World Cup.

Despite plenty of promise last time around, Venezuela failed to live up to the billing and finished bottom with only ten points.

Their form this time around is almost perfect, they are unbeaten in seven, with five wins and two draws.

Fernando Batista is the man in charge of La Vinotinto after spending two years as an assistant.

Philadelphia Union’s Jesús Bueno could make his international debut. Domestic-based players include Alain Baroja and Alexander González both of whom ply their trade with capital club Caracas F.C.

Venezuela Squad

Goalkeeper: Alain Baroja, Rafael Romo, Joel Graterol

Defender: Roberto Rosales, Alexander González, Jhon Chancellor, Mikel Villanueva, Wilker Ángel, Yordan Osorio, Luis Mago, Christian Makoun, Miguel Navarro, Jon Aramburu

Midfielder: Tomás Rincón (captain), Rómulo Otero, Darwin Machís, Júnior Moreno, Yeferson Soteldo, Jefferson Savarino, Yangel Herrera, José Martínez, Cristian Cásseres, Eduard Bello, Samuel Sosa, Jesús Bueno

Forward: Salomón Rondón, Josef Martínez, Sergio Córdova, Alejandro Marqués

Match One Fixtures

Paraguay vs. Peru | Kick-off — 23:30 (GMT) 07/09/2023

Colombia vs Venezuela| Kick-off — 00:00 (GMT) 08/09/2023

Argentina vs Ecuador | Kick-off — 01:00 (GMT) 08/09/2023

Uruguay vs Chile| Kick-off — 00:00 (GMT) 09/09/2023

Brazil vs. Bolivia | Kick-off — 01:45 (GMT) 09/09/2023

Match Two Fixtures

Bolivia vs Peru | Kick-off — 21:00 (GMT) 12/09/2023

Ecuador vs Uruguay| Kick-off — 22:00 (GMT) 12/09/2023

Venezuela vs. Paraguay | Kick-off — 23:00 (GMT) 12/09/2023

Chile vs Colombia | Kick-off — 01:30 (GMT) 13/09/2023

Peru vs Brazil | Kick-off — 03:00 (GMT) 13/09/2023