The FIP World Cup 2026 Qualifiers for South America kicked off in Asunción with a dominant performance from the host nation, Paraguay. Both the men’s and women’s teams secured crucial victories on opening day, while Chile made a notable impact during their tournament debut.
Day 1 Results and Standings
The competition featured high-stakes matchups across both categories, with several teams positioning themselves for a strong run in the group stages. Here is a breakdown of the key performances and outcomes from the opening day:
- Paraguay Men’s Success: The hosts swept Ecuador 3-0. Martin Abud and Sebastian Rodriguez opened with a 6-0, 6-2 win, followed by Matias Popovich and Samuel Miltos, who dominated their match 6-1, 6-1. Adrian Miranda and Sebastian Rodriguez closed the tie with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
- Paraguay Women’s Success: The women’s team narrowly defeated Uruguay 2-1. The deciding match saw Mariana Salsamendi and Maria Alejandra Vera overcome Claudia Jessica Fernandez and Stephania Gaetan Monza in a tight three-set battle, finishing 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
- Venezuela Women’s Campaign: Venezuela had a busy and productive day, defeating Uruguay 2-1 after a comeback win in the second and third matches by pairs Valeria Rothe-Oriana Alejandra Meza and Samantha Martinez-Maria Eugenia Turrillo Briquet. They followed this with a clean 3-0 sweep against Ecuador.
- Chile Women’s Debut: Making an impressive first appearance, Chile defeated Ecuador 3-0. The team saw strong contributions from all three pairs: Catalina Arancibia-Julieta Escalona Diaz, Esperanza Lamatta-Dalal Chahuan, and Macarena Lobo-Amalia Bentjerodt Burgos.
- Uruguay Men’s Performance: Uruguay secured a 3-0 victory over Venezuela. The wins were delivered by the pairings of Diego Sebastian Ramos-Martin Araujo De Lizarza, Higor Ensslin Alves-Juan Ignacio Artia, and Franco Nicolas Soria-Lautaro Lopez.
Following the first day of play, Venezuela currently leads the women’s group with four points, while Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Ecuador are tied with two points each. In the men’s standings, Uruguay and Paraguay lead with two points, while Venezuela and Ecuador hold one point apiece. The tournament continues today, August 21, with crucial matchups including Chile versus Paraguay and Uruguay versus Ecuador.
