By Louis Smith.

International fixtures will get underway for the first time in 2026, with all 10 South American nations in action as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup, now just a few months away.

There will be particular attention on Bolivia, who are set to compete in a play-off as they aim to reach their first World Cup in 32 years.

While many sides are involved in traditional friendlies, others are taking part in the 2026 FIFA Series, which offers a unique set of intercontinental clashes between teams that would not usually face each other.

The format brings a tournament-like feel, giving nations valuable opportunities to build cohesion and test themselves ahead of the World Cup and future international windows.

Whatever the approach, it promises to be an intriguing and exciting round of fixtures with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon.

Argentina

Argentina spent October facing Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Angola as they continued to build on an impressive World Cup qualification campaign.

Their next set of fixtures takes a more unusual route, with Mauritania and Zambia next up in Buenos Aires. These matches come after their scheduled clash with Spain in the Finalissima was cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with no agreement reached on an alternative venue.

As a result, Argentina’s preparations for the World Cup will come against significantly lower-ranked opposition, raising questions over the level of challenge facing La Albiceleste heading into the tournament.

Argentina have called up three domestically based players, with Leandro Paredes representing Boca Juniors, alongside Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña from rivals River Plate.

The squad also features Lionel Messi, as expected, and notably, every player included in the squad has already been capped at international level.

Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono, who has impressed in his appearances for Los Blancos, has also been called up and is the youngest player in the squad.

Argentina Squad

Goalkeepers:
Juan Musso, Gerónimo Rulli, Emiliano Martínez

Defenders:
Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, Marcos Acuña, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Valentín Barco

Midfielders:
Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Nicolás Paz, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Máximo Perrone

Forwards:
Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, Franco Mastantuono, José Manuel López, Joaquín Panichelli, Gianluca Prestianni

Argentina fixtures

Argentina v Mauritania |Kick-off — 23:15 (GMT) 27/03/2026

Argentina v Zambia |Kick-off — 00:15 (GMT) 01/04/2026

Bolivia

It is a huge moment in qualification for Bolivia, who face Suriname in a decisive play-off in Monterrey. A victory would see them move one step closer, where they could face Iraq for a place at the FIFA World Cup.

Bolivia will be hoping to secure qualification for their first World Cup since 1994 by March 31st, in what would be a fitting return given the tournament is once again being held across North America.

It will be interesting to see how Bolivia approach the tie against Suriname in what is effectively a knockout fixture. They will not have the advantage of altitude, which has been a key factor in their qualification campaign. They have shown they can compete away from home, most notably with strong results against Chile.

That will give them confidence heading into what is one of the biggest matches in recent Bolivian football history.

The squad features four potential debutants in Carlos Collazo, Dieguito Rodríguez, Ian Rodríguez, and Nabil Nacif. At just 16, Nacif is the youngest player in the squad.

There are also 16 domestically based players included.

The top scorer among the current squad is Miguel Terceros of Santos, who has scored eight goals in 30 appearances for his national team.

Bolivia Squad

Goalkeepers:
Gerónimo Govea, Guillermo Viscarra, Carlos Lampe

Defenders:
Luis Haquín, Roberto Fernández, Dieguito Rodríguez, Ian Rodríguez, Richet Gómez, Lucas Macazaga, Marcelo Torrez, Leonardo Zabala, Diego Arroyo, Efraín Morales, Yomar Rocha, Diego Medina

Midfielders:
Miguel Terceros, Ramiro Vaca, Ervin Vaca, Robson Matheus, Moisés Villarroel, Carlos Collazo, Jesús Maraude, Carlos Melgar, Héctor Cuéllar, Gabriel Villamíl

Forwards:
Enzo Monteiro, Víctor Ábrego, Juan Godoy, Fernando Nava, Nabil Nacif, Guilmar Centella, Moisés Paniagua

Bolivia fixtures

Bolivia v Suriname |Kick-off — 22:00 (GMT) 26/03/2026

Play-off final against Iraq to be played on 31/03/2026, Kick-Off 21:00 GMT

Brazil

2025 was a mixed year for Brazil, who won five of their ten matches across all competitions.

In November, they faced Senegal in London, securing a 2–0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, before drawing 1–1 with Tunisia just days later.

Their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will see them take on France and Croatia in the United States, while further fixtures against Panama and Egypt have also been scheduled in May and June as Carlo Ancelotti’s side continue their build-up to the tournament.

Alisson Becker was named in the Brazil squad but misses out through injury after picking up a thigh issue, which ruled him out of Liverpool’s recent defeat to Brighton.

The squad features several potential debutants, including Léo Pereira, Danilo, Gabriel Sara, Igor Thiago, Rayan, and Kaiki.

Both Thiago and Rayan have impressed in the Premier League. Igor Thiago has broken the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian in a single Premier League season, with 19 goals in 30 league appearances, while Rayan has looked promising in each of his outings since joining from Vasco da Gama in the winter, consistently causing problems for defenders.

Carlo Ancelotti has called up five domestically based players in Danilo, Hugo Souza, Léo Pereira, Danilo Luiz, and Kaiki, with the latter earning his place in the squad following Alex Sandro’s injury.

The Cruzeiro full-back will be hoping to earn his first minutes in a Brazil shirt, having previously helped the Brazil U20 side to silverware.

Brazil Squad

Goalkeepers:
Ederson, Bento, Hugo Souza

Defenders:
Marquinhos, Danilo Luiz, Kaiki, Roger Ibañez, Bremer, Wesley, Douglas Santos, Roger Ibañez, Léo Pereira

Midfielders:
Casemiro, Fabinho, Andrey Santos, Danilo Oliveira, Gabriel Sara

Forwards:
Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Endrick, Luiz Henrique, João Pedro, Igor Thiago, Rayan

Brazil fixtures

Brazil v France |Kick-off — 20:00 (GMT) 26/03/2026

Brazil v Croatia |Kick-off — 01:00 (GMT) 01/04/2026

Chile

Chile were the worst-performing side in CONMEBOL qualifying, managing just two wins from 18 matches and finishing with a goal difference of -18 as they missed out on the World Cup for the second consecutive cycle.

2025 was a disappointing year overall, with just three wins from 10 fixtures. However, those victories came towards the end of the year, with wins over Peru, Russia, and Peru again, meaning they arrive into this 2026 FIFA Series on the back of improved form.

This international break sees them travel long distances to face Cape Verde and New Zealand in Auckland, in the latest edition of the FIFA Series tournament.

The squad features six potential debutants, including 19-year-old Felipe Faúndez of O’Higgins, who is also one of eight domestically based players selected for the tournament.

Derby County’s Ben Brereton Díaz, who has 40 caps and nine goals for Chile, has also been included in the squad.

Chile will be hoping to build momentum heading into the next cycle as they prepare for the 2028 Copa América and the next set of CONMEBOL qualifiers.

Chile Squad

Colombia

After missing out on the 2022 World Cup, Colombia responded with an impressive qualification campaign, finishing third to secure their place at the 2026 tournament.

2025 was a strong year overall, with Colombia going unbeaten in nine matches following an opening 2–1 defeat to Brazil in Brasília at the start of the year. Their November fixtures were particularly impressive, securing a 2–1 victory over New Zealand in the United States before beating Australia 3–0 in New York.

With momentum building, Colombia will be hoping to emerge as one of the dark horses at the upcoming World Cup.

Their squad for fixtures against Croatia and France, also set to be played in the US, highlights their consistency, with all 26 players selected already capped at international level.

Notably, the squad includes just one domestically based player in David Ospina, who brings significant experience with 129 caps for his country.

The squad features eleven players aged 30 or above, highlighting the vast experience within the group.

The youngest player in the squad is Gustavo Puerto, who plays his club football for Racing Santander in Spain.

Colombia Squad

Ecuador

Despite a three-point deduction during World Cup qualification, Ecuador still finished in an impressive second place as they continue to build towards the tournament.

What stood out most was how difficult they were to beat, recording eight wins and eight draws while losing just twice in 18 matches, highlighting their defensive strength.

In fact, they went unbeaten throughout the whole of 2025, although this did include five goalless draws, underlining both their solidity at the back and occasional lack of cutting edge in attack.

They head to Europe to face Morocco in Madrid and the Netherlands in Eindhoven, as head coach Sebastián Beccacece continues to build towards the World Cup.

The squad features four potential debutants in David Cabezas, Bryan Ramírez, Anthony Valencia, and Elías Legendre.

The strong performances of Independiente del Valle and LDU Quito in continental competition are also reflected in the squad, with five domestically based players selected, including two from Independiente del Valle, two from LDU Quito, and one from Libertad.

Ecuador Squad

Goalkeepers:
Hernán Galíndez, Moisés Ramírez, Gonzalo Valle, David Cabezas

Defenders:
Ángelo Preciado, Pervis Estupiñán, Piero Hincapié, Félix Torres, Willian Pacho, Joel Ordóñez, José Hurtado, Jackson Porozo, Leonardo Realpe

Midfielders:
Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Plata, Kendry Páez, John Yeboah, Alan Minda, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcívar, Denil Castillo, Yaimar Medina, Patrik Mercado, Bryan Ramírez

Forwards:
Enner Valencia, Kevin Rodríguez, Leonardo Campana, Jordy Caicedo, Nilson Angulo, Janner Corozo, John Mercado, Jeremy Arévalo, Anthony Valencia, Elías Legendre

Ecuador fixtures

Morocco v Ecuador |Kick-off — 20:15 (GMT) 27/03/2026

Netherlands v Ecuador |Kick-off — 19:45 (GMT) 31/03/2026

Paraguay

Paraguay are preparing for their first World Cup since 2010, with optimism building ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Their preparations include fixtures against Greece in Piraeus and Morocco in Lens, as they continue to build momentum heading into the tournament.

In November, they suffered a 2–1 defeat to the United States, who they are set to face in their opening World Cup match, but responded well with a 2–1 victory over Mexico just days later to end the year on a positive note.

Gustavo Alfaro has called up four domestically based players in Roberto Fernández, Gustavo Velázquez, Alan Benítez, and Gastón Olveira.

The squad also features five potential debutants, including Gustavo Caballero, who plays his club football for Portsmouth.

Maurício has also been called up. The former Palmeiras man, born in São Paulo, has previously represented Brazil U23s in friendly fixtures.

Of Paraguayan descent, he formally requested to switch his international allegiance to Paraguay in February of this year.

Paraguay Squad

Peru

It was a disappointing 2025 for Peru, who missed out on World Cup qualification and managed just two wins from ten matches. One of those victories came in an unofficial friendly against Bolivia on December 21.

Their last official fixture saw them suffer a 2–1 defeat to Chile in Sochi.

They now begin preparations for the 2027 Copa América, with upcoming fixtures against Senegal in Paris and Honduras in Spain.

The squad features four potential debutants, all of whom play in the domestic leagues, and includes a strong domestic contingent, with 13 locally based players selected.

The youngest player in the squad is Matías Zegarra of Melgar, who will be hoping to make his senior debut.

Peru Squad

Uruguay

After going six matches unbeaten between June and October in 2025, Uruguay’s final international window of the year was disappointing, drawing 0–0 with Mexico before suffering a 5–1 defeat to the United States.

They begin 2026 with a trip to London to face England, before taking on Algeria in Italy, as Marcelo Bielsa’s side continues preparations for the World Cup.

The squad does not feature any domestically based players; however, there is a strong contingent from Brazil, with eight players currently playing their club football there, as well as two players based in Argentina.

There are also a number of familiar names, including Al-Hilal’s Darwin Núñez and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, who has been outstanding in recent weeks, notably against Manchester City, as well as scoring in the recent Madrid derby.

The squad also includes England-based players such as Manuel Ugarte and Santiago Bueno.

Notably, every player selected has already been capped at senior international level.

Uruguay Squad

Venezuela

Oswaldo Vizcarrondo will take charge of the Venezuelan national team for the first time as permanent head coach, having previously served as caretaker during 2025.

It was a disappointing year for Venezuela, who narrowly missed out on an intercontinental play-off spot, falling short by just two points despite showing signs they could reach their first ever FIFA World Cup.

In November, they recorded a victory over Australia before suffering a 2–0 defeat to Canada, ending the year on a mixed note.

They are part of the 2026 FIFA Series, where they will face Trinidad and Tobago and Uzbekistan in Tashkent, providing valuable competitive minutes as they begin to build towards the 2027 Copa América and the next World Cup qualifying cycle.

The squad features eight potential debutants and includes a strong domestic contingent, with 10 locally based players selected.

Keiber Lamadrid, who plays his club football for West Ham, is a feature as is, while the ever-present Salomón Rondón also remains a key figure. The 36-year-old forward has 120 caps and 48 goals for La Vinotinto.

Venezuela Squad

Goalkeepers:
José Contreras, Frankarlos Benítez, Jesús Camargo, Cristopher Varela

Defenders:
Nahuel Ferraresi, Jon Aramburu, Teo Quintero, Carlos Vivas, Luis Balbo, Delvin Alfonzo, Andrusw Araujo, Diego Osío

Midfielders:
Jefferson Savarino, Cristian Cásseres, Telasco Segovia, Luis González, Gleiker Mendoza, David Martínez, Jorge Yriarte, Wikelman Carmona, Carlos Faya, Keiber Lamadrid, Gustavo González, Carlos Sosa

Forwards:
Salomón Rondón, Alejandro Marqués, Jesús Ramírez, Jovanny Bolívar

Venezuela fixtures

Venezuela v Trinidad and Tobago |Kick-off — 10:00 (GMT) 27/03/2026

Uzbekistan v Venezuela |Kick-off — 15:00 (GMT) 30/03/2026