On Wednesday, Chile will face Uruguay in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Santiago. Uruguay has already secured their spot in the tournament, while Chile will not be participating. Here’s an analysis of the upcoming match.
Match preview
The Chilean team is going through a difficult time, having failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. They end this qualifying round under interim coach Nicolás Córdova, who was promoted from the youth squad. Recently, La Roja lost 0-3 to Brazil and currently sits at the bottom of the standings.
During the qualifiers, Chile recorded only two wins, four draws, and eleven losses. They haven’t scored in their last five matches and suffered eight defeats in their last nine away games. Though playing at home could be a slight advantage, the team’s motivation and confidence are very low, making it hard to expect even a draw.
In contrast, Uruguay booked their place in the 2026 World Cup with a solid 3-0 victory over Peru in Montevideo. Under coach Marcelo Bielsa, they delivered a strong second-half performance, scoring twice after the break and securing third place in the standings. The team has been consistent, especially in their offense, despite some struggles away from home.
Uruguay has only one away win in the qualifiers — against Argentina. However, with a full-strength squad including the returning Darwin Núñez, they can treat this match in Santiago as a preparation for the World Cup. Ronald Araújo and Nahitan Nández are also expected to return to the starting lineup after serving suspensions.
Probable lineups
- Chile: Viguru, DÃaz, Maripán, Román, Ormazábal, Loyola, Pizarro, Suazo, Cepeda, Aravena, Tapia
- Uruguay: Rochet, Nández, Araújo, Cáceres, Piquerez, Valverde, Bentancur, De Arrascaeta, Pellistri, RodrÃguez, Núñez
Match facts and head-to-head
- Uruguay has won four of the last five matches against Chile.
- Chile has not scored in their last five qualifiers.
- Uruguay conceded only one goal in their last two matches.
Prediction
At the end of the qualifiers, Uruguay appears strong and well-prepared, while Chile is struggling and lacks motivation. Although Chile has home advantage, Uruguay is favored to win. A bet on Uruguay with a (0) handicap win at odds of 1.60 looks promising.
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