International Football
OVERVIEW OF SOUTH AMERICA’S 10 TEAMS JOSTLING FOR QATAR 2022 TICKETS
ARGENTINA
The experienced Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi head up a squad that contains a number of new faces brought in by coach Lionel Scaloni, who was given the job on a permanent basis in July.
Since Russia 2018, Scaloni has handed more prominent roles to the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Lucas Ocampo and Juan Foyth. His new-look side is beginning to acquire an identity of its own and should be among the main contenders.
BOLIVIA
Appointed in August, Bolivia’s Venezuelan coach, Cesar Farias, is looking to build a team around experienced campaigners such as Carlos Vaca, Alejandro Chumachero, Danny Vejarano, Jhasmani Campos, Juan Carlos Arce and Carlos Saucedo.
Youngsters Paul Arano and Henry Vaca are tipped to join them in what looks set to be a challenging campaign for the Bolivians.
BRAZIL
Since topping South America’s qualifying for Russia 2018, Tite has made changes at the back, with Danilo and Sandro coming in alongside the experienced Alisson Becker and Thiago Silva.
The coach is spoiled for choice in midfield and up front. Though Neymar is still the star act, Artur, Gabriel Jesus, Willian and Firmino, to name but a few, all have lots to offer. Brazil will once again be one of the teams to beat.
CHILE
Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda was handed the job in January and the spine of his side virtually picks itself: Claudio Bravo, Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Charles Aranguiz, Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas, all of them two-time Copa America winners.
Guillermo Maripan, Erick Pulgar, Alfonso Parot, Gabriel Arias and Oscar Opazo are four players who are beginning to break through and could be crucial to Chile’s bid to atone for their failure to make Russia 2018.
COLOMBIA
Colombia’s Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz, has plenty to work with. The likes of David Ospina, Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez, Wilmar Barrios, Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez, Juan Fernando Quintero and Radamel Falcao remain very much part of his plans, while newcomers Luis Muriel, Mateus Uribe and Duvan Zapata are all taking on more responsibility. Colombia are one of the favourites to qualify.
ECUADOR
Still without a coach since the departure of Hernan Gomez, La Tri are going through a major transition.
Spearheading the new generation are Jhegson Mendez, Xavier Arreaga, Jordan Sierra and Michel Estrada, with a clutch of South American U-20 Championship winners waiting in the wings, such as Diego Palacios, Gonzalo Plata and Jose Cifuentes.
Leading them on the road to Qatar 2022 will be Enner Valencia, Angel Mena and Renato Ibarra, though it remains to be seen who their coach will be.
PARAGUAY
Since taking on the job, Argentinian coach Eduardo Berizzo has been looking to fashion a team with a character of its own.
It is a side in which players such as Matias Rojas, Junior Alonso, Jorge Moreira, Miguel Almiron and Dario Lezcano have all established themselves after being brought in by Berizzo’s predecessor.
Together with brothers Oscar and Angel Romero, Gustavo Gomez and Derlis Gonzalez, they form the nucleus of a team that is aiming to take Paraguay back to the World Cup for the first time since South Africa 2010.
PERU
Ricardo Gareca achieved the seemingly impossible in the last qualifying competition and will be looking for his charges to kick on this time.
The structure of the side that took Peru to their first world finals in 36 years remains largely the same, with the likes of Paolo Guerrero, Pedro Gallese, Luis Advincula, Miguel Trauco, Renato Tapia, Christian Cueva and Edison Flores all ready to go again.
URUGUAY
Oscar Tabarez heads into his fifth World Cup qualifying competition with the same solid-looking squad that he put together before Russia 2018 and of which much is expected.
As well as the experience of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin and Fernando Muslera, Tabarez can count on several youngsters with leadership qualities, among them Jose Maria Gimenez, Matias Vecino and Lucas Torreira. Uruguay are one of the sides expected to push hard for a place at Qatar 2022.
VENEZUELA
Last place in the Russia 2018 qualifiers was a backwards step for Venezuela, who have nevertheless kept their faith in Rafael Dudamel.
The coach remains committed to his youth policy, having brought through the likes of Wuilker Farinez, Yangel Herrera, Yefferson Soteldo and Ronald Hernandez.
If Venezuela are to finally make their World Cup dream come true, however, they will need veterans Tomas Rincon and Salomon Rondon to fire.
International Football
FIFA Unites 2025 Kicks Off in Morocco, Marks Historic Debut for Afghan Refugee Women’s Team
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced that the inaugural FIFA Unites 2025 women’s competition will take place in Morocco, beginning Sunday, October 26.
According to FIFA, the friendly tournament will feature several women’s national teams and will serve as a landmark event for women’s football, notably marking the first-ever international appearance of the Afghan refugee women’s team.
The side, officially named “Afghan Women United,” was named by the players themselves after consultations with FIFA.
In addition to Afghanistan’s historic participation, the tournament will also see the Libyan and Chadian women’s teams expected to enter the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time after the event.
FIFA expressed appreciation to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) for its cooperation and logistical support in hosting the competition, highlighting Morocco’s growing role as a major hub for women’s football development on the African continent.
The global football governing body also reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s football and gender inclusion, emphasizing that the competition is part of its Action Strategy for Afghan Women’s Football, approved by the FIFA Council in May 2025.
The strategy encompasses the organization of competitive opportunities, ongoing technical assistance, and support for Afghan players during the selection and preparation stages.
Through FIFA Unites 2025, the organization aims to promote solidarity, inclusion, and empowerment through sport — underscoring football’s unique role in providing hope and opportunity, particularly for women in challenging circumstances.
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International Football
Again, it is #DestinationMorocco as FIFA takes Women’s Series 2025 to the Kingdom
By Kunle Solaja
FIFA has officially confirmed that the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 will be hosted by Morocco, with the opening matches scheduled to kick off on Sunday, October 26.
The event marks yet another milestone for Moroccan football, further cementing the kingdom’s growing stature as a global hub for the sport.
The upcoming tournament promises historic firsts for women’s football. The Afghan Women United team—formed from Afghan players living in exile—will play their first-ever international match, while Chad and Libya will make their FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking debuts at the conclusion of the round-robin competition.
In a statement, FIFA expressed gratitude to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) for its collaboration and reiterated its commitment to advancing women’s football globally. The world football governing body also reaffirmed its support for Afghan women footballers, no
ting that the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, approved by the FIFA Council in May 2025, continues to guide the federation’s inclusive efforts.
“FIFA looks forward to working closely with the FMRF to host a successful and symbolic tournament that showcases the unifying power of football,” the organization said.
As part of that effort, FIFA confirmed that Afghan Women United was selected as the team’s new official name following consultations with players—a symbolic gesture reflecting unity, resilience, and identity amid global challenges.
Morocco: A Flourishing Football Destination
Morocco’s selection as host comes at a time when the North African nation’s football profile is soaring. The country is currently hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and, just this week, celebrated another historic milestone as its U-20 men’s team clinched the FIFA U-20 World Cup title—a triumph widely viewed as the fruit of a long-term national sports vision.
A Victory Rooted in Royal Vision
The Lion Cubs’ success is no accident. It stems from a deliberate and structured sports policy championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has consistently positioned sport as a catalyst for human, social, and territorial development. Since the National Sports Conference of 2008, the King’s leadership has inspired a generation of athletes and administrators to see football as both a unifying national force and a tool for youth empowerment.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy: Cradle of Excellence
Central to Morocco’s football renaissance is the Mohammed VI Football Academy (AMF), inaugurated in 2010. The academy epitomizes the royal vision of using sport as a means of education, personal growth, and international competitiveness. Five players from the victorious U-20 squad—Yassir Zabir, Othmane Kountoune, Fouad Zahouani, Houssam Essadak, and Yassine Khalifi—are proud graduates of the academy.
Investing in Infrastructure and Inclusion
Morocco’s nationwide expansion of local playing fields, regional training centres, and modern football facilities has created a fertile ground for nurturing young talent. This democratization of access to sport has shaped a new generation of Moroccan youth—disciplined, skilled, and confident on the global stage.
The success of both the Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Atlas Lionesses, who reached the knockout stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reflects the depth of this comprehensive strategy.
A Beacon of African and Arab Football
With the hosting of the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 and the country’s string of international achievements, Morocco continues to position itself as a pioneer in African and Arab football. Its success is more than athletic—it is symbolic of a nation where sport drives progress, unity, and pride.
As the Afghan Women United, Chad, and Libya prepare to make history in Morocco this October, the Kingdom once again proves that its football journey is not only national but inspirational—anchored in vision, excellence, and the unifying power of the beautiful game.
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Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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