Lionel Messi is set to play his final World Cup qualifier in Argentina on Thursday, while four South American teams are still competing for the remaining automatic places at the 2026 tournament in what could be a dramatic climax.

The 38-year-old Argentina captain will take to the pitch at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires to face Venezuela in what he describes as a very special match, with his family set to be in attendance, including his wife, children, parents and siblings.

“It’s going to be very special for me because it will be my last qualifying match. I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches after that,” the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner said last week.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters on Wednesday that it was “going to be emotional, special and beautiful”.

“If it really is the last qualifying match, we have to enjoy it,” he said.

While Argentina have secured their World Cup berth, topping the table in South America’s qualifying competition with 35 points, three automatic qualification spots are still to be determined ahead of Thursday’s fixtures and the final matchday on September 9.

Ecuador and Brazil are already qualified with 25 points, followed by Uruguay and Paraguay with 24 points each and Colombia with 22 points. Venezuela with 18 points remain in contention, chasing a first World Cup appearance.

Ecuador’s remarkable recovery stands as one of the campaign’s most compelling storylines, having overcome a three-point penalty for a player eligibility issue to successfully secure qualification.

Brazil’s journey has been far bumpier, marked by coaching upheaval that saw Dorival Junior replaced following a 4-1 away defeat to Argentina, after which Carlo Ancelotti made his debut in a goalless draw with Ecuador.

The qualifying cycle has produced many memorable moments, such as Colombia’s first ever World Cup qualifying win over Brazil when they earned a stunning 2–1 victory in Barranquilla in November 2023.

Uruguay also bade an emotional farewell to their captain, Luis Suarez, who retired from international football during the 0–0 draw with Paraguay in September 2024.

Thursday’s fixtures see Paraguay face Ecuador, Argentina take on Venezuela, Uruguay meet Peru, Colombia host Bolivia and Brazil play Chile.

If matters aren’t already settled, then the final matchday on Tuesday will determine the last automatic qualifiers for the global showdown next June and July, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

In-form striker Denis Bouanga hit a first-half hat-trick as Gabon swept past Seychelles 4-0 on Wednesday in Saint Pierre to go top of Group F of their 2026 World Cup qualifier.

The match, played at the neutral venue of the Cote d Or Sports Complex in the Mauritian city of Saint Pierre, saw the Panthers dominating the exchance from the start of the game.

The Los Angeles FC forward struck in the 4th, 34th and 38th minutes before substitute Yannis M’Bemba added a late fourth to round off an emphatic win.

The result moves the Panthers to 18 points from seven games, two clear of Côte d’Ivoire—who have a game in hand—before the pair meet in a potential group decider later in the window.

The Ivorians will play Burundi on Friday and will have the chance to return to the top of the group if they win the game.

Bouanga’s treble also lifts him to the top of the qualifiers’ scoring chart on eight goals, ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

Gabon started with intent and were ahead inside four minutes, Bouanga finishing smartly after the Seychelles defence was opened up down the left.

The captain doubled the advantage just after the half-hour, guiding home from close range, and completed his hat-trick four minutes later with another precise finish to effectively settle the contest before the interval.

Seychelles tried to wrestle back some control after the break but struggled to create clear chances.

A booking for Onfia on 61 minutes summed up a frustrating afternoon for the islanders, whose spirited work without the ball was repeatedly undone by Gabon’s movement in wide areas and the visitors’ superiority in transition.

With the game drifting towards a comfortable conclusion, Gabon’s bench provided the final flourish.

Introduced on 68 minutes, M’Bemba latched onto a late opening to make it 4–0 in the 89th minute, ensuring the scoreline reflected the visitors’ dominance.

Gabon now host Côte d’Ivoire next, knowing victory would keep qualification in their own hands.

Seychelles remain bottom without a point but will look to take positives from a more compact second-half display as they search for a first result of the campaign.

FIFA will sell tickets for the 2026 World Cup using dynamic pricing, with group-stage seats starting at $60 and finals tickets rising to $6,730.

The first sales window, a Visa Presale Draw, runs from September 10–19, offering about 1 million tickets. Fans must register through their FIFA accounts, but entry into the draw does not guarantee availability.

Dynamic pricing, common in airlines and hotels, adjusts costs based on demand. FIFA will also roll out an official resale platform without price caps, while Mexican residents will have a face-value resale option through watchdog PROFECO.