Argentina Held, Brazil Secure Dramatic Late Victory in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Argentina’s quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup took a minor detour on Thursday as they were limited to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela despite Lionel Messi’s return.
In the meantime, Brazil’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Chile in the qualifying round rekindled their campaign, helped by a late winner.
Venezuela held Argentina to a 1-1 draw on Lionel Messi’s return, while Brazil salvaged a 2-1 victory over Chile on Thursday to resume their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Messi appeared to have put the world champions on the right track after his free kick assisted in setting up Nicolas Otamendi’s first goal in the 13th minute in the Venezuelan city of Maturin. Messi missed Argentina’s most recent round of matches in September due to an injury.
However, midway through the second half, veteran striker Salomon Rondon met Yeferson Soteldo’s cross with a header that soared past Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, rewarding Venezuela for a valiant performance in front of their home supporters.
Argentina, the 2022 World Cup winners, are still very much on track to make it to the finals in 2026, which will take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The best six players in South America’s 10-team round-robin qualifying round will advance to the finals of the tournament, which has been extended to 48 teams.
Argentina is three points ahead of second-place Colombia, who were shockingly defeated 1-0 by Bolivia in Thursday’s other qualifying match. Argentina leads the rankings with 19 points from nine games.
Argentina is ready to qualify with ease, but Brazil, their opponent, is still having a difficult time qualifying.
After just two minutes, Chile, who are now in last place in the standings, stunned Brazil with a header that looped over Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson to make it 1-0. Veteran striker Eduardo Vargas did the scoring.
However, Brazil equalized in stoppage time of the first half when Savinho found space and crossed for Igor Jesus, the striker for Botafogo, to head home.
Up until Luiz Henrique of Brazil scored a low effort from the edge of the box in the 89th minute to make it 2-1, the game appeared to be headed to a tie.
Brazil now sits six points behind leaders Brazil in the rankings after the victory, with 13 points from nine games.
Bolivia’s Upsurge
Somewhere else Bolivia’s heroic 1-0 victory over Colombia on Thursday, in a match played in the thin air of El Alto, which is located at about 4,150 meters (13,600 feet) above sea level, increased their chances of making their first World Cup berth since 1994.
Miguel Terceros’ outstanding solo goal gave the Bolivians their fourth qualification win and catapulted them into the automatic qualification spots.
Since the club began competing in qualifying matches in El Alto, which is slightly higher than the Estadio Hernando Siles in neighboring La Paz—the home stadium for the Bolivians—the team’s fortunes have drastically improved.
Bolivia lost two of its first three home qualifiers in La Paz last year, thus they decided to transfer the matches to El Alto.
The strategy appears to have paid off, as Venezuela was destroyed 4-0 at the same location in September before Thursday’s 1-0 victory.
Bolivia, with 12 points from nine games, is currently sixth in the South American rankings following an unexpected 2-1 victory away to Chile last month.
The game-winning goal came in the 58th minute from Terceros, a 20-year-old winger for Brazilian team Santos. He came in from the right flank, dribbled past Kevin Castano and Jhon Lucumi, two Colombian defenders, and fired a thunderbolt with his left foot that went into the top corner.
Ecuador, who ended the day in fifth place in the table following a 0-0 stalemate with Paraguay in Quito, and Bolivia are tied on points.
