Chile must be looking forward to the end of these qualifications after failing to qualify again, but there is one final test for La Roja, as they host Uruguay.
Chile's experience in the 17 qualification matches to date can be described with a single word: disaster. La Roja lost 11 out of 17 matches, have a 9:27 goal difference, and even lack a permanent manager since Ricardo Gareca's departure three months ago. Not finishing last is the most they could hope for, but to achieve that, they need to beat Uruguay, who have looked flawless in recent outings.
One positive will be Uruguay's below average performance on the road in these qualifiers. La Celeste won only one of their eight away games, all the way back in November 2023, when they shockingly defeated Argentina. Since then, they had four draws and two defeats. But Uruguay already confirmed their place in the upcoming World Cup, and the only purpose behind this final match is to find out their finishing place.
With all teams from second to sixth place being separated by three points total, there could be a major shift in the standings after the final whistle.
How the bookies view it: Close but not in Chile's favour
Home advantage has been a major factor in the South American World Cup qualifications, and we rarely see away teams with the betting advantage. This is an exception, as Chile are involved, and bookmakers gave them 21/10 next to the 5/4 for Uruguay. Meanwhile, the draw is available at 11/5.
Recent head to head: Four wins in five for La Celeste
Over a decade has passed since Chile were truly competitive in the region, and Uruguay have been one of their toughest rivals in recent years. For instance, Uruguay won four of the last five H2Hs, while the fifth was a draw. Chile's last win over this rival dates back to 2016.
Players to watch: Nunez is back in action
While Darwin Nunez's personal stats have not impressed in recent years, he remains Uruguay's biggest threat in attack. And he hasn't played for the national team in over a year, serving a five-match suspension. He is in the group for the match, and we expect him to start. This is a great opportunity for him to boost his confidence ahead of the season with a new team. Moreover, he scored five goals and contributed to two more during his first 12 appearances in these qualifiers.
Probable line-ups
Chile: Vigouroux, Roman, Marzipan, Diaz, Suazo, Pizarro, Loyola, Hormazabal, Cepeda, Aravena, Tapia
Uruguay: Rochet, Piquerez, Caceres, Araujo, Nandez, De Arrascaeta, Bentancur, Valverde, Pellistri, Rodriguez, Nunez
Anything else catch the eye?
While Uruguay have mostly been unsuccessful on the road over the past couple of years, they've had too many successes over Chile in recent times. And while they have a place in the next World Cup, finishing second or third will be much better than finishing sixth, for example.
We expect Uruguay to take this one seriously and give it their best shot. The odds are good, and the fact that Chile looked like amateurs against Brazil last week makes us believe La Celeste will win again.
GambleAware