Venezuela is unique among South American nations, as baseball rather than soccer historically dominated the sporting culture. They were late to join FIFA (1952) and remain the only CONMEBOL nation never to qualify for a World Cup. However, La Vinotinto (nicknamed for their burgundy jerseys) has made significant strides since 2000, reaching as high as 25th in FIFA rankings and consistently advancing in recent Copa América tournaments.
Currently ranked 47th, Venezuela started their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign promisingly but has since struggled, sitting 8th in CONMEBOL with a 2-6-4 (WDL) record. Under Argentine manager Fernando Batista, they typically deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation that emphasizes technical ability and quick transitions, with fullbacks pushing forward into wide spaces.
Historically, Venezuela has struggled against the US with a 1-2-3 (WDL) record against the Americans. Most recently, they earned their only win over the US in 2019. For the US, it was an embarrassing 3-0 defeat before the Gold Cup. Their current Venezuela squad features several MLS-based players, including Atlanta United's Ronald Hernández and Austin FC's Daniel Pereira.
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