Preview:Venezuela vs Colombia - prediction, team news, lineups

Venezuela will be aiming to secure a place in the inter-confederation playoffs when they play host to Colombia on Tuesday.

As for the visitors, they are already looking towards next year's tournament after clinching automatic qualification with a dominant home win over Bolivia.

Match preview

Venezuela are sitting in seventh position in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying after winning four, drawing six and losing seven of their 17 matches.

La Vinotino are unable to secure automatic qualification, but they are currently in pole position to clinch a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs despite being comfortably beaten by Argentina on Thursday.

Lionel Messi netted a brace alongside a Lautaro Martinez effort to condemn Fernando Batista's side to a heavy 3-0 loss in Buenos Aires.

Crucially for Venezuela, eighth-placed Bolivia also suffered a 3-0 defeat in their meeting with Colombia, ensuring that they will enter the final matchday with a one-point advantage over La Verde.

As a result, Venezuela know that a win on Tuesday would be enough to seal seventh spot, and even if they fail to pick up three points, they will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs unless Bolivia pull off a surprise win over Brazil.

Venezuela may require a favour from the five-time world champions, considering that they have not beaten Colombia since the 2015 Copa America group stage.

Colombia will travel to Maturin in celebratory mood after they punched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 home win over Bolivia on Thursday.

The country's second-highest goalscorer James Rodriguez gave his side a narrow lead at the break, before Jhon Cordoba and Juan Fernando Quintero found the net in the second period to make sure of the victory.

As a result of that victory, Colombia can now look forward to returning to football's biggest tournament after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

While they have achieved their ultimate goal, Colombia can still move up and down the standings on the final matchday, with Nestor Lorenzo's side sitting in fifth spot with 25 points from 17 matches.

They may find it difficult to take maximum points from Tuesday's fixture, having won just one of their eight away games in 2026 World Cup qualifying (D4, L3).

Colombia will at least take confidence from the fact that they have won five of their last eight matches against Venezuela (D3), including a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in September 2023.

Venezuela World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

L L W W L L

Venezuela form (all competitions):

L L W W L L

Colombia World Cup Qualifying - South America form:

L L D D D W

Team News

Jose Martinez and Telasco Segovia have both completed one-match bans, but it remains to be seen whether Venezuela will be able to call upon the former after he sat out Corinthians’ last three matches due to injury.

Jorge Yriarte and Yeferson Soteldo are both pushing for starting berths after featuring as half-time substitutes in Thursday’s fixture.

Venezuela’s all-time record goalscorer Salomon Rondon will be looking to add to his 47-goal international tally when he features up front.

As for the visitors, Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz and River Plate’s Kevin Castano could come into the side after serving one-match bans.

There is no Cucho Hernandez or Jhon Duran in the squad, so Cordoba could retain his place for the final World Cup qualifier.

Luis Diaz should continue to offer one of Colombia’s main attacking threats having scored five goals in his last 10 appearances.

Venezuela possible starting lineup:

Romo; Aramburu, Navarro, Angel, Ferraresi; Casseres, Yriarte, Bello; Savarino, Soteldo, Rondon

Colombia possible starting lineup:

Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Castano; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba

We say: Venezuela 1-1 Colombia

Colombia will be full of confidence after sealing their spot at next year's World Cup, but they have won just once away from home during the campaign, and with that in mind, we think that they will have to settle for a draw against Venezuela, which would leave the hosts relying on Brazil to take something from their game with Bolivia.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.