Match Preview: Venezuela vs Colombia
The 18th-round clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will see Venezuela face Colombia on September 10 at the Monumental de Maturín stadium. This preview offers a comprehensive forecast, betting odds, and key statistics for the Venezuela vs Colombia encounter.Venezuela’s Campaign & Prospects
Fernando Batista’s squad faced Argentina in their previous fixture, where they suffered an expected 0-3 defeat. This result kept Venezuela in 7th position, effectively ending their direct qualification hopes for the World Cup. However, the dream of reaching the tournament through playoff matches remains alive, provided they can secure their current standing in the league table. With just a one-point lead over Bolivia, Venezuela must ensure they match or exceed Bolivia’s points tally in the final round to keep their playoff aspirations intact.
Key Statistics for Venezuela
- The national team has failed to win 11 of their last 13 World Cup qualification matches, recording 5 draws and 6 losses.
- Exactly two or three goals were scored in 7 of Venezuela’s last 9 games in this tournament.
- Venezuela boasts an undefeated streak in their home World Cup qualifiers, with 8 matches without a loss (4 wins and 4 draws).
Venezuela’s Predicted Starting XI (5-3-2)*
Rafael Romo – Angel Romero, Miguel Navarro, Nahuel Ferraresi, Jhon Aramburu, Christian Makoun – Christian Casseres, Tomas Rincon, Eduard Bello – Salomon Rondon, Jefferson Savarino.
Colombia’s Performance & Qualification Status
Néstor Lorenzo’s side comfortably defeated Bolivia 3-0 in their last home match. This victory brought an end to their six-game winless streak in the current qualifying campaign, which consisted of 3 draws and 3 losses. More importantly, Colombia has now secured their direct qualification for the upcoming World Cup.
Key Statistics for Colombia
- Colombia holds a four-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers, with 1 win and 3 draws.
- At least two goals were scored in 6 of the national team’s last 8 matches in this tournament.
- Away from home, the Colombians have failed to win in their last five World Cup qualifying matches, recording 2 draws and 3 losses.
Colombia’s Predicted Starting XI (4-4-2)*
Camilo Vargas – Jhon Lucumí, Davinson Sanchez, Johan Mojica, Santiago Arias – James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias, Richard Rios, Jefferson Lerma – Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba.
Referee Profile
The match will be officiated by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.
Wilton Sampaio’s Refereeing Stats (2024–2025 International Matches):
- Matches officiated: 15
- Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 69
- Average yellow cards per match: 4.6
- Red cards shown: 0
- Average fouls per match: 23
- Penalties awarded: 27% of matches
Match Prediction: Venezuela vs Colombia
In the South American qualifiers, only one suspenseful scenario remains. All six direct qualification spots for the World Cup have been secured, leaving only the coveted 7th place to be decided. Venezuela currently holds a stronger position for this spot; a victory against Colombia would suffice. However, the team could potentially retain this position even with a loss, provided Brazil manages to secure points against Bolivia.
Home Advantage for Venezuela
Venezuela has demonstrated impressive form on home soil, remaining undefeated throughout this qualifying cycle with 4 wins and 4 draws. Notably, they have conceded only two goals in these matches. Only Ecuador shares a similar unbeaten home record. In contrast, Colombia has only managed one victory in their eight away qualifying fixtures. Considering both teams’ statistics and the visitors’ lack of significant tournament motivation, it is reasonable to expect the hosts to at least avoid defeat in this crucial encounter.
Our Betting Pick
My prediction for this match is “Venezuela with a (0) handicap” with an implied coefficient of
1.82
Author: Oleksandr Oleksenko
* The starting lineup listed for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.
Mark Thompson