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.

sev/bb