HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
In 2024, Argentina defended their Copa América crown and took the lead in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Botafogo, for their part, won the Copa Libertadores.
The year 2024 was rich on the South American continent. Qualifiers for the 26 FIFA World Cup™ have progressed in exciting fashion. The stakes are clear: six direct tickets for the biggest meeting on the football planet which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The various national selections also competed in a new edition of the Copa América, jointly with Concacaf. The competition concluded with a result identical to that of three years ago: Lionel Messi’s Argentina lifted the trophy again (see below).
In the Copa Libertadores, two Brazilian clubs – Botafogo and Atlético Mineiro – faced off for the championship title in an unforgettable final in Buenos Aires won 3-1 by the Rio de Janeiro club, further asserting supremacy Auriverdes clubs, who have won the last six editions of the continent’s most important competition for clubs. As a result, four of CONMEBOL’s six representatives at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ will be Brazilian. The other two, qualified through the ranking, will be Argentine clubs.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ brought excitement to Colombia and confirmed the growth of women’s football on the continent and around the world. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Marta’s Brazil once again failed to bring home gold and had to settle for the silver medal after losing in the final against the United States (1- 0).
Qualifiers for the 26 FIFA World Cup™
Six days of South American qualifying have been played since September, after the end of the Copa América in the United States. Six additional days will take place in 2025 and will make it possible to define the six countries directly qualified for the 2026 World Cup, as well as the teams which will participate in the play-off tournament in order to obtain the additional ticket granted for the supreme event.
Argentina occupies first place in the standings with 25 points, five more than Uruguay who are in second place. La Scaloneta, continental champion in 2024, lost twice away: a first time in Colombia (2-1) during the remake of the final of the last Copa América and a second time against Gustvao Alfaro’s Paraguay ( 2-1). After going through some turbulence under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay turned things around with a home triumph over Colombia (3-2) and a draw against Brazil away (1-1) .
Ecuador did not suffer from its change of coach. Following the Copa América, the Spaniard Félix Sánchez was in fact dismissed and the Argentinian Sebastián Beccacece took the reins of the selection. After an initial defeat against Brazil away (1-0), Ecuador began to collect big points by completing a great year 2024 with a 1-0 victory in Colombia in the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez stadium. The Colombians, finalists of the Copa América, obtained their revenge on Argentina (2-1). However, the last performances were not up to par, and they ended the year in fourth position.
The Auriverdes, for their part, still have things to prove, but remain in the game with 18 points collected including 11 in this year 2024 alone. Concerns remain from a footballing point of view for the Dorival Júnior squad who will have to continue to improve if the Seleção are to have a chance of winning their sixth world title in 2026.
Paraguay, sixth in the group, was the revelation of 2024. The appointment of Gustavo Alfaro profoundly altered the course of a selection which seemed on the verge of sinking: the Paraguayans did not suffer the slightest defeat in 2024 and are even imposed at home against Brazil (1-0) and Argentina (2-1). “We can say that we have obtained [en 2024] the number of points we need to aspire to qualify for the World Cup. However, it doesn’t matter what we achieved as we are mid-table. We need to collect a lot more points if we want this dream to come true,” warned el Profesor.
After a catastrophic 2023, Bolivia recovered by winning 1-0 in El Alto against Colombia, thus signing their best result of the year. La Verde seems to be heading straight for the play-offs alongside a Venezuelan team which has not obtained a single victory in 2024 despite encouraging draws at home against Argentina (1-1), Uruguay (0-0) and Brazil (1-1). The 4-2 defeat of the Venezuelans against Chile, even though Bolivia won 2-1, complicates the hopes of qualification for the Vinotinto team. Chile has collected four points over the last two days and shares, with Peru, the hope of catching up and securing its ticket to the World Cup.
Ranking:
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Argentine – 25 points (+14)
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Uruguay – 20 points (+8)
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Ecuador – 19 points (+7)
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Colombia – 19 points (+5)
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Brazil – 18 points (+6)
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Paraguay – 17 points (+1)
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Bolivia – 13 points (-14)
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Venezuela – 12 points (-4)
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Chili – 9 points (-11)
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Peru – 7 points (-12)
Argentina defends its Copa América crown
Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste ended a drought by winning the Copa América in 2021 and have continued to win ever since. After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (the only trophy missing from La Pulga’s record), number 10 remains the undisputed leader of a team which once again shone during the Copa América organized in the United States in 2024. With Emiliano Martínez in goal, Cristian Romero as the pillar of the defense and Lautaro Martínez as a scorer, the group led by Lionel Scaloni defeated the Colombia in the final (1-0) to retain their champion title.
Beyond the title, this meeting was greatly symbolic. The image of Lionel Messi, sitting on the substitutes’ bench after an ankle injury forced him to leave the field prematurely, made the rounds on all social networks. In honor of their captain and idol, his teammates redoubled their efforts so that their hero had the chance to climb, once again, on the top step of the podium. Uruguay obtained third place after beating a surprising Canadian team, at the end of a competition which saw James Rodríguez be voted best player, Emiliano Martínez best goalkeeper and Lautaro Martínez top scorer with five goals.
Botafogo at the top for the first time
It’s been six years since the Copa Libertadores has been adorned with green and yellow. After Fluminense’s coronation in 2023, Botafogo and Atlético Mineiro faced off at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires to define the new South American champion.
In Buenos Aires, Fogão started the final on the wrong foot with the expulsion of Gregore in the first minute of the match. However, Artur Jorge’s men surprised everyone by triumphing 3-1 thanks to goals from Luiz Henrique, Alex Telles and Júnior Santos. Eduardo Vargas’ reduction in the score was not enough for Atlético Mineiro, who missed a unique opportunity to lift a second Libertadores. This coronation allowed the Rio de Janeiro club to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup, during which they lost 3-0 to Pachuca in the FIFA Derby of the Americas.
Brazilians Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras punched their ticket to the 2025 Club World Cup as the last four Libertadores champions. The Argentines of River Plate and Boca Juniors will be the two other representatives of CONMEBOL in this brand new competition. With the groups now known, Botafogo will appear in Group B with Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid and Seattle Sounders.
Colombia vibrated to the rhythm of women’s football
The 2024 edition of the U-20 Women’s World Cup thrilled Colombia and the entire continent. With the popular Linda Caicedo in their squad, the hosts had a great campaign and reached the quarter-finals. They then fell during the penalty shootout against the Netherlands (2-2 ap, 3 tab to 0). Korea DPR were crowned champions for the third time in this age category after defeating Japan by the narrowest margin possible at the El Campín stadium in Bogota.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, another CONMEBOL representative shone. Indeed, Marta and Brazil continued their exploits until reaching the final of the competition. After a mixed first round, the Brazilians defeated the French at home in the quarter-final (1-0), before getting rid of the Spanish in the semi-final in an anthology match (4-2). Despite the defeat in the final against the United States of Emma Hayes (1-0), Marta and her teammates left an indelible mark in the hearts of the supporters.
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