Defending champion Argentina celebrated all through Tuesday (March 25, 2025) because the workforce secured its place on the 2026 World Cup hours earlier than an historic 4-1 win over archrival Brazil.
Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay meant Argentina had sufficient cushion in South American qualifying to safe one of many continent’s six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup set to be co-hosted subsequent 12 months by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
After Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay at El Alto, about 85,000 raucous Argentina followers kicked off the festivities on the Monumental de Nunez Stadium regardless of the absence of Lionel Messi. They had been chanting into the evening in Buenos Aires, now extra assured their workforce can defend the World Cup title.
Brazil’s worst defeat
For Brazil, its worst deficit in South American World Cup qualifying historical past compounded strain on coach Dorival Júnior.
Brazil is in fourth place in South American qualifying with 21 factors, 10 behind Argentina however solely two behind second-place Ecuador, which was held to a 0-0 draw by Chile. Third-place Uruguay and fifth-place Paraguay even have 21 factors, and Colombia is one level behind them in sixth. Seventh-place Venezuela has 15 factors after a 1-0 win over Ninth-place Peru.
Brazil was lacking three common starters — goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhães and midfielder Bruno Guimarães — and wasn’t actually aggressive from begin to end.
It’s the primary time Argentina has gained each matches towards Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match. The dwelling victory was additionally Argentina’s first towards the Brazilians since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
Messi uncertain
Argentina has led South American qualifying from the beginning, with few hiccups and main away wins at Brazil and Uruguay. But coach Lionel Scaloni has not fielded 37-year-old Messi in a number of video games, which nonetheless raises doubts on whether or not the star will play on the World Cup subsequent 12 months.
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister scores his facet’s third purpose towards Brazil throughout a World Cup 2026 qualifying match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina
| Photo Credit:
AP
Messi has an damage to his adductor and was not included in Argentina’s squad for the 2 newest matches.
Striker Julián Álvarez stated Argentina’s massive win “is historic because of the rival, the context, what was said, the great match we played and because we are qualified to the World Cup.”
“Very humbly we did our work,” he said.
Argentines run riot
Argentina scored its two first goals in only 12 minutes of play, both thanks to accurate passing and some clumsy Brazilian defending.
Alvarez netted the first in the 4th minute after Marquinhos, Murillo and Guilherme Arana failed to reach the ball. The Argentina striker shot between the legs of goalkeeper Bento from close range.
Argentina scored again eight minutes later with Enzo Fernández, once again from close range after a low cross by Gonzalo Molina.
Brazil got one back via Matheus Cunha in the 26th after a mistake by Cristian Romero, who lost the ball to the Brazilian by the edge of the box. Enzo Fernandez found Alexis Mac Allister bursting into the penalty box unmarked 11 minutes later to make it 3-1 to Argentina.
During the break, Brazil sought to get some grip by boosting its presence in the midfield with Joao Gomes and the substitution of Murillo and striker Rodrygo. But it was to no avail, with Giuliano Simeone scoring for Argentina in the 71st after four Brazilian defenders failed to block a low cross in front of their goal.
Dorival under pressure
“Everything we planned, from the first minute of play, did not happen,” Brazil’s coach advised a information convention. “Argentina was a lot better in each manner. I apologize to Brazil followers, we anticipated one thing very totally different from what we confirmed. It was a really tough evening for us.”
Brazil captain Marquinhos stated all gamers ought to have finished higher in Buenos Aires.
“It isn’t only about Dorival,” Marquinhos said. “This is not only the coach’s fault, it is the players too. We need to have our heads in the right place. They (Argentina) also had tough times before and they overcame it. We can do it too.”
Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of Brazil’s football confederation, said he’d speak to the domestic media Wednesday, but didn’t reply whether Dorival Júnior was going to be his main topic.
Argentine players celebrated with their fans, asking for “a minute of silence” for Brazil. Scaloni’s team has not lost to their rivals since 2019.
The next South American World Cup qualifiers will be played in June.
Published – March 26, 2025 11:29 am IST
