Colombia make winning start to World Cup qualifying / Photo: © AFP
-
Ukraine claims US missile holdup ahead of reported talks
-
US bans use of China's DeepSeek by govt agencies
-
Niners hold off Commanders to stay perfect in NFL
-
Middle East fuel crunch drives solar push in tiny Fiji
-
Tech firms bear brunt of selling as Asian stocks drop
-
Indian rappers use music to sound climate alarm
-
Reese scores 30 as Dream stun Valkyries to level WNBA finals
-
Japan probe on its way to Mars moon
-
Horror and disbelief after lawmaker attacked in rural Australia
-
Lula or Bolsonaro's son? Brazil makes a final choice
-
Ukraine races to secure energy supplies ahead of winter
-
EU unveils strategy to boost Arctic presence
-
Vote count begins in Alberta secession referedum, testing Canada unity
-
How recent controversies have rocked the US death penalty debate
-
Ukraine claims US missile holdup as Trump floats summit without Zelensky
-
Adams facing long injury layoff as Rams' problems deepen
-
Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt
-
US judge orders Saudi engineer held in OpenAI case
-
Japan successfully launches probe in historic Mars moon mission
-
Maddison sparkles as Spurs end Premier League winless run
-
US to auction deep sea mining leases off American Samoa
-
Maddison sparkles on Spurs return as win drought ends
-
Australian lawmaker hurt in car attack underwent surgery overnight: PM
-
Trump says ready to meet with Putin and Xi in China
-
Japan launches rocket for potential world first Mars moon mission
-
The young lawmaker making Brazil's Lula 'king of the selfie'
-
Ethiopia PM warns Eritrea of 'severe consequences' if supports enemies
-
Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years
-
Boland grabs opportunity for Australia as South Africa struggle in second Test
-
Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension after walking out on Portugal
-
Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension: Portuguese federation
-
Netanyahu basks in Trump endorsement week before election
-
France announces curfews as government grapples with unrest
-
Saudi airport closure disrupts life in kingdom's capital
-
Boland sets pace as South Africa struggle
-
Ramaphosa tells South Africa to prepare for loss of US-Africa trade deal
-
Ukraine on back foot as Kremlin moots US, China meeting
-
France presses resale platforms to remove 'stolen' goods after unrest
-
'Stay home!': Tourists find themselves in a France convulsed by protests
-
Yamal v PSG: Ballon d'Or backdrop to Champions League showdown
-
Kenyan cult leader guilty on all charges over 191 starvation deaths
-
Araujo says too soon to talk about permanent Liverpool move
-
Eagles star Hurts to miss rest of NFL season: reports
-
US wants to be 'strong partner' for central Asia: Rubio
-
Oil-rich Alberta votes on Canada breakup
-
'Special' to face friend Perez in Champions League, says Liverpool's Iraola
-
Israel announces arrests after West Bank settler attacks on Westerners
-
Monitor says Indonesia fires have burned nearly two million hectares
-
Guehi insists players have 'trust and belief' in Man City after charges
-
French PM says could declare state of emergency over unrest 'if needed'
Colombia make winning start to World Cup qualifying
Colombia beat Venezuela 1-0 while 10-man Peru held on for a 0-0 draw at Paraguay as the long journey of South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup got under way on Thursday.
World champions Argentina begin their campaign later on Thursday against Ecuador in Buenos Aires while five-times World Cup winners Brazil face Bolivia on Friday.
The qualification process for the expanded 48-team World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, offers two extra places for South America with six teams qualifying directly.
The seventh out of the 10 nations will head to an inter-continental play-off.
A 46th minute header Rafael Santos Borre, from a pinpoint Jhon Arias cross, was enough to earn three points for Colombia in Barranquilla.
The victory ensured a winning start for new Colombia coach, Argentine Nestor Lorenzo, who was taking charge of his first competitive game.
Colombia failed to qualify for last year's World Cup in Qatar while Venezuela are hoping to earn their first ever appearance in a World Cup finals.
Peru's difficult task in Ciudad del Este became harder after they lost defender Luis Advíncula one the stroke of half-time when he was dismissed for a second yellow card.
But they held on for a point in what was a pulsating, high-tempo encounter.
M.Betschart--VB