Venezuela travel to Barranquilla to face Colombia on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, with kick-off at 20:30 local time (01:30 UTC). Venezuela vs Colombia both sides aim to consolidate their CONMEBOL qualifying bids in Matchday 17, with Colombia riding high on home form and Venezuela seeking to upset the hosts.
As the 2026 World Cup qualification window edges toward a dramatic conclusion, Venezuela finds itself on the cusp of making history. Facing a must-win scenario against two continental powerhouses, La Vinotinto enters their final Group A fixtures with everything to play for—starting with a daunting visit from an already-qualified Colombia side. A victory would cement Venezuela’s place in the inter-confederation playoff, a feat no one believed possible just months ago.
Colombia’s path is now set. With a dominant 3–0 victory over Bolivia in Barranquilla, the Cafeteros have finally earned their long-awaited return to the World Cup, ending an eight-year absence from the global stage. Despite an inconsistent qualifying campaign, a blend of seasoned players like James Rodríguez and rising stars like Luis Díaz stepped up when it counted the most.
Venezuela leans on Salomón Rondón as the focal point, with Yeferson Soteldo offering pace and creativity. The midfield pairing of José Martínez and Cristian Cásseres Jr. provides industry and energy.
Colombia retains playmaking authority with James Rodríguez, explosive quality via Luis Díaz, and a physical presence in Jhon Córdoba. Defensive stability hinges on the central pairing of Sánchez and Llinás/Mosquera.
Venezuela sits in the playoff zone (7th), needing results to move closer to Colombia (6th) for direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Venezuela vs Colombia 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Colombia comfortably holds a top-five spot with 27 points, remaining unbeaten in their last five home qualifiers and showcasing a +8 goal difference at the Metropolitano. Their well-rounded squad combines seasoned midfielders who dictate the tempo with speedy wingers on the flanks.
Venezuela sits in seventh place with 21 points, keeping its playoff hopes alive. They’ve had a tough time on the road, losing four out of six away qualifiers, but their solid defense and quick counter-attacks make them dangerous when given space.
The upcoming clash in Maturín is more than just a match—it’s a high-stakes showdown where one team will fight to keep the dream alive, and the other looks to cap off their qualification journey with more domination. La Vinotinto must summon every ounce of resilience and ambition to challenge their seasoned opponents on home soil.
Competition details
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CONMEBOL) – Matchday 17
- Date & kick-off: Tuesday, 9 September 2025 — 20:30 COT (01:30 UTC)
- Venue: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla (sold out)
- Broadcast: Caracol TV/Win Sports (Colombia); Meridiano TV/TuLigaTV (Venezuela); check local listings
Tactics & key players
- Colombia (tactics): Expect a 4-2-3-1 shape emphasizing midfield dominance and wide overloads. They’ll press high to disrupt build-up and use full-backs to deliver crosses into the box.
- Key Colombian figures: The double pivot provides protection and progression, while the number 10 creates space between the lines. Their lone striker’s movement will stretch Venezuela’s backline.
- Venezuela (tactics): A 4-4-2 block out of possession, aiming to defend compactly and hit on the break. Set pieces and direct balls behind the defence will be focal points.
- Key Venezuela factors: Midfield runners support quick counters; wing-back bursts can exploit space when Colombia overcommits.
Venezuela vs Colombia Match Info
- Fixture: Venezuela vs Colombia — CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier
- Date: Tuesday, 9 September 2025
- Kick-off: 20:30 COT (01:30 UTC)
- Venue: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
- Referee: To be confirmed via official CONMEBOL channels
- TV / Live stream: Caracol TV, Win Sports (Colombia); Meridiano TV, TuLigaTV (Venezuela)
Venezuela vs Colombia Predicted starting XIs
Slotted in familiar systems, both teams will deploy balanced lineups: Colombia with fluid midfield rotations and Venezuela with disciplined defensive lines ready to counter-punch.
| Team | Style |
|---|---|
| Colombia | High press, wide overloads, midfield control, full-back crosses |
| Venezuela | Deep block, quick transitions, set-piece emphasis |
Venezuela – Predicted XI (4-3-3)
Drawing from recent tactical trends and lineup reports:
- Goalkeeper: Rafael Romo
- Defenders: Jon Aramburu (RB), Miguel Navarro (LB), plus a center-back duo of Nahuel Ferraresi and Alexander González
- Midfield: José Martínez and Cristian Cásseres Jr. are anchoring the midfield, joined by Eduard Bello or Telasco Segovia for added creativity
- Front Three: Salomón Rondón as the central striker, flanked by Yeferson Soteldo on the wing and Darwin Martínez (or Josef Martínez) on the opposite side
Colombia – Predicted XI (4-3-3)
Based on recent squad selections and conventional setups:
- Goalkeeper: Camilo Vargas (or David Ospina)
- Backline: Daniel Muñoz (RB), Davinson Sánchez, Andrés Llinás (or Yerry Mina) centrally, and Miguel Ángel Borja (likely used as fullback or alternative).
- Midfield Trio: Jefferson Lerma (holding), Duván Zapata (midfield screen), and Jhon Arias (link-up play).
- Attack: James Rodríguez as the main creator, supported by Jhon Córdoba up front and Luis Díaz out wide
Recent form & H2H
- Colombia: Six wins, two draws in the last eight qualifiers at home; most recently beat Paraguay 2-0.
- Venezuela: Two draws, four losses on the road; last away win was in June 2024.
- Head-to-Head: Colombia unbeaten in the last five meetings (W4 D1), including a 3-1 victory in Caracas earlier this cycle.
Final prediction
Home advantage and attacking depth give Colombia the edge to break down Venezuela’s organised block, with a clean sheet likely in Barranquilla.
- Colombia 2–0 Venezuela
How to watch the Venezuela vs Colombia match
You can watch the Venezuela vs Colombia 2026 World Cup qualifier live in the USA via Fanatiz, which holds streaming rights for CONMEBOL qualifiers including home matches of both Colombia and Venezuela