Preview: Chile vs. Venezuela – prediction, team news, lineups

Chile will aim to record just their second win in their 2026 World Cup qualifying section when they welcome Venezuela to the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos on Tuesday night.

The hosts are bottom of the table, picking up just six points from their 11 games in the section, while Venezuela are in seventh place – a playoff spot between confederations – collecting 12 points from their first 11 games.

Match preview

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Chile have appeared in nine World Cups, famously finishing third at the 1962 tournament, but they have failed to qualify for the finals in the last two competitions and will miss out in both 2018 and 2022.

The Reds have a tough task on their hands when it comes to finishing in the top seven of their current World Cup qualifying group, as a disappointing campaign to date has left them bottom with six points from 11 games.

Ricardo Gareca‘s side have managed just one win while drawing three and losing seven of their 11 games, scoring just five times in the process, leaving them six points adrift of seventh-placed Venezuela and 10 adrift of sixth-placed Paraguay.

Chile go into this match on the back of a goalless draw with Peru, which ended a four-match losing streak, while their only win in the section came at home to the same nation in October 2023.

The Reds have only lost four times to Venezuela in their history, but have been beaten in two of the last three meetings between the two sides, including a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture last October.

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Venezuela enters this match after a 1-1 draw against Brazil, with Telasco Segovia cancel an opener from Raphinha to leave the two sides level and that was ultimately how it ended.

Fernando BatistaArgentina’s side also held Argentina to a 1-1 draw last month, but they are winless in their last seven games in the section, with their last win at home to Chile in October 2023.

La Vinotinto have a record of two wins, six draws and three defeats from 11 games to collect 12 points, which has left them seventh in the table, level on points with eighth-placed Bolivia.

Venezuela are currently in an inter-confederation playoff spot and the fact that they have been tough to beat will give them confidence in their fight to book a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

The national team has incredibly never qualified for the finals of a World Cup, so it would be an achievement if Batista could guide the country to the 2026 tournament.

Chile World Cup Qualifying – South America form:

Chile form (all competitions):

Venezuela World Cup Qualifier – South America Form:

Venezuela form (all competitions):

Team news

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A lack of goals has been a major problem for Chile this campaign as he found the back of the net on just five occasions, but Eduardo Vargas has 44 goals for his national team and continues in the last third of the pitch here.

Alexander Aravena has yet to get off the mark for the national team, but he should have another opportunity to score his first Chile goal during Tuesday’s match with Venezuela.

Captain Arturo Vidal is still going strong at the age of 37 and is in line for another start in midfield, while only a fourth international cap is expected for the midfielder Vicente Pizarro.

As for Venezuela, Yangel Herrera misses the injury he picked up in the 15th minute of the clash with Brazil, which will open the door for Cristian Casseres to enter the XI.

The visitors will also be without services from Alexander Gonzalez on Tuesday, with the 32-year-old receiving a straight red card just nine minutes after coming on as a substitute against Brazil.

Salomon Rondon is Venezuela’s all-time leading goalscorer with 45, and the 35-year-old is on course to win his 114th cap for his national team in this crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Chile possible starting line-up:
Cortes; Loyola, Maripan, Diaz, Suazo; Vidal, Echeverria, Pizarro; Valdes; Aravena, Vargas

Venezuela’s possible starting line-up:
Romo; Aramburu, Ramirez, Angel, Navarro; Casseres, Martinez; Bello, Savarino, Murillo; Rondon

We say: Chile 0-0 Venezuela

Venezuela are draw specialists in the section, sharing the points on six occasions, and while it would not be a surprise to see the visitors record a narrow victory on Tuesday, we expect a close and potentially uneventful match that will end goalless.

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

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