Colombia and Venezuela are set to kick off their 2026 World Cup qualification campaigns with an exciting match at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla on Thursday.
While Colombia seeks redemption after failing to qualify for the previous World Cup, Venezuela hopes to make history by securing their maiden World Cup appearance.
Having reached the knockout stages in the last two World Cups, Colombia’s failure to qualify for Qatar 2022 came as a major disappointment.
As a result, they appointed Nestor Lorenzo as their new manager last summer. The former assistant manager, who had a successful stint with Melvar in Peru, remains unbeaten in charge, winning six and drawing two of his eight games. Their recent victory over Germany in a friendly showcased their potential under Lorenzo’s guidance.
For Venezuela, the task of qualifying for the World Cup has been arduous. They finished last in CONMEBOL qualifying in the past two editions, despite once ranking as high as 25th in the world.
With Fernando Batista taking over as head coach this year, there is hope for improvement. The team has shown promise, securing three wins and a draw in friendly matches. To boost their confidence and make history, positive results against Colombia and Paraguay are crucial.
In terms of current form, Colombia has been consistent, displaying a series of wins and draws across multiple competitions.
On the other hand, Venezuela has experienced a mix of victories, losses, and draws. The outcome of this match remains uncertain, but both teams are eager to make a statement early in the qualification campaign.
Team News:
Colombia will miss the services of captain David Ospina due to injury. In his absence, Juan Cuadrado is expected to lead the team, while Camilo Vargas will take charge between the posts following his impressive clean sheet against Germany.
Premier League stars Luis Diaz and Jefferson Lerma are likely to feature in attack and midfield respectively. Richard Rios and Jhon Cordoba could make their senior debuts.
Venezuela has excluded Jhon Murillo from their squad, but captain Tomas Rincon will undoubtedly play his 127th international match. Striker Salomon Rondon is also nearing his 100th appearance for the national team.
Predicted Lineups:
Colombia: Vargas;
Munoz, Mina, Lucumi, Machado; Uribe, Lerma; Rodriguez, Cuadrado; Borre, Diaz
Venezuela: Graterol;
Rosales, Villanueva, Osorio, Navarro; Savarino, Herrera, Casseres, Soteldo; Martinez, Rondon
Score Prediction:
We anticipate a hard-fought match between two unbeaten managers. Despite Venezuela’s recent struggles in qualifying, Colombia’s superior individual quality makes them the favorite. Look out for Luis Diaz, who has impressed with Liverpool this season. Our prediction: Colombia 2-0 Venezuela.