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Steffen Schmidt - September 6, 2023
Colombia vs Venezuela
CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup Qualifications
Date: 8 September 2023, Friday
Kick-off at 00:00 UK / 01:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez (Barranquilla).
Colombia start the 2026 World Cup qualifying process with the home fixture against Venezuela on Thursday evening at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez.
Anything but a victory would represent a massive failure for the hosts, especially knowing how motivated they are to pull off a strong campaign after missing out on the World Cup in Qatar last year.
Los Cafeteros will come into this in high spirits. They are unbeaten in eleven straight games, eight of which ended in their wins.
The impressive streak includes the clashes against Japan, Iraq, and Germany earlier this year. Head coach Nestor Lorenzo can be especially satisfied with the team’s defensive showings as Colombia kept their net untouched in each of the previous two matches.
Venezuela will also start the new qualifying campaign on a high despite finishing the previous tournament firmly at the very foot of the CONMEBOL standings with 10 points from 18 outings.
Argentine manager Fernando Batista took charge of the team in March this year and Venezuela have managed a thread of three wins and a draw in four games with him in charge.
Much like their Thursday counterparts, Venezuela kept their net untouched in the previous two friendlies against Honduras and Guatemala, courtesy of two separate 1-0 victories.
Colombia are massive favorites on paper but can they justify the tag on the pitch? It is hard to recognize the value in the 1.36 odds offered for the home win pick here. That said, the Colombians are highly motivated to get off to a right-footed start after missing out on the previous World Cup.
They won’t get an easier game than Venezuela at home in the entire qualifying process. We will back Colombia to win by two or more goals at the 2.05 odds while you can alternatively go for the home win to nil at the 1.90 odds.
