Flamboyant boss Bielsa eyes third World Cup spot with Messi set for home swansong

Charismatic veteran coach Marcelo Bielsa is on the brink of guiding a third team to World Cup qualification as Uruguay take on Peru on Thursday needing only a draw to secure their ticket to next year's North American extravaganza.

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Paraguay, who host Ecuador, also need only a draw to qualify, while Colombia can book their spot at World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, by beating Bolivia.

Reigning champions Argentina, for whom the incomparable Lionel Messi will be playing his last home qualifier for the Albiceleste at the age of 38, have already qualified, alongside Brazil and Ecuador.

For Uruguay, a draw or more in front of 60,000 fans in a packed-out Estadio Centenario in Montevideo would be a fitting achievement for the 70-year-old Bielsa.

He guided his native Argentina to a shock group stage exit at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but did better at the Chile helm in South Africa in 2010, reaching the knockout stages before losing 3-0 to Brazil.

However, all has not been plain-sailing with the Celeste.