Follow the detailed, minute-by-minute progression of the clash between Colombia and Venezuela on the opening day of the 2026 South American qualifiers, a path toward the World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Colombia faces Venezuela in a pivotal first-date encounter of the 2026 South American Qualifiers, hosting them at the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium. The Cafeteros aim to respond after a disappointing run that kept them out of the Qatar 2022 tournament.
Colombia earned a playoff spot by finishing sixth in the previous CONMEBOL qualifying cycle. Venezuela, meanwhile, endured a rough campaign en route to Qatar 2022, finishing at the bottom of the standings. This opening match sets the tone for both sides as they reset their ambitions for the next World Cup cycle.
South American qualifiers for the 2026 North American World Cup: dates, fixtures, results, and format
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COLOMBIA – VENEZUELA, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- Minute by minute: Los Cafeteros versus La Vinotinto in a clash that could define early momentum in the race to the World Cup.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast. Colombia hosts Venezuela on the tournament’s first date at the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium, setting the stage for a campaign full of strategic battles and rising talents.
THE TARGET OVERVIEW
The fixture places two teams with distinct rebuilding paths into direct confrontation. Colombia, seeking consistency after a challenging period, looks to combine solid defense with creative attack. Venezuela, eager to climb from a difficult qualifying phase, will rely on discipline, pace, and forward threats to destabilize their rivals.
HOW TO WATCH LIVE TV AND STREAMING
The match is broadcast in Argentina on DirectTV Sports. In Colombia, viewers can tune in through Caracol and RCN. For streaming, Direct TV Go will carry the game in Argentina, Largest+ will provide coverage in Chile, and a local streaming option is available in Colombia.
FORMATIONS
COLOMBIA
Camilo Vargas; Daniel Muñoz, Yerry Mina, John Lucumí, Deiver Machado; Matheus Uribe, Jefferson Lerma, Juan Cuadrado; Jhon Arias, Rafael Santos Borré, Luis Díaz. DT: Néstor Lorenzo.
VENEZUELA
Rafael Romo; Yordan Osorio, Alexander González, Luis Mago, Wilker Ángel; Jefferson Savarino, Yangel Herrera, Tomás Rincon, José Martínez; Darwin Machís and Salomón Rondón. DT: Fernando Batista.
Source: Goal