Argentina marked their qualification for the 2026 World Cup in spectacular fashion, delivering a commanding 4-1 win over long-time rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night, March 25.
The atmosphere at the Estadio Monumental was electric even before kickoff, as Argentina had already secured their spot earlier in the day following Bolivia’s goalless draw with Uruguay. This set the stage for an unforgettable night, with stars like Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone putting on a show for the home crowd.
Julian Alvarez wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring just six minutes in with a clinical finish after a precise assist from Thiago Almada. The early goal sent the Argentine fans into a frenzy, and the energy only intensified from there.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead in the 12th minute, capitalizing on Brazil’s defensive lapses to slot home a well-placed cross. Brazil attempted to fight back, and in the 26th minute, Mattheus Cunha took advantage of a defensive error by Cristian Romero to pull one back for the visitors.
However, Argentina remained relentless. In the 37th minute, Alexis Mac Allister executed a stunning volley, thanks to another pinpoint pass from Almada, restoring Argentina’s two-goal cushion. The final blow came in the 71st minute when Giuliano Simeone, making a statement on the international stage, rifled in a powerful strike from a tight angle to seal the victory at 4-1.
With this emphatic win, Argentina has officially booked its place in the 2026 World Cup, set to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Sitting comfortably atop the South American qualification table with 31 points from 14 matches, they have secured one of the six automatic berths with four games still left to play. Meanwhile, Brazil’s struggles continue as they sit in fourth place.
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Ecuador kept their World Cup hopes alive with a goalless draw against Chile, maintaining their hold on second place with 23 points. Uruguay took advantage of Brazil’s slip-up, climbing to third on goal difference following their draw with Bolivia.
Colombia, on the other hand, missed an opportunity to close the gap, settling for a 2-2 draw with Paraguay despite taking an early two-goal lead. Meanwhile, Venezuela bolstered their hopes for a historic first-ever World Cup appearance with a crucial 1-0 victory over Peru, thanks to Salomon Rondon’s decisive penalty in the 41st minute.
With South American qualification heating up, the battle for a spot in the 2026 World Cup remains intense, but Argentina has already proven they’re a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
