In the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, both Argentina and Brazil, two South American football powerhouses, suffered defeats in the absence of their star players Lionel Messi and Neymar. Argentina lost 2-1 to Colombia, with James Rodriguez scoring from the penalty spot and providing an assist to secure the win for his team. Meanwhile, Brazil were upset by Paraguay, losing 1-0 with Diego Gomez netting the winner for the home team.
In the match between Colombia and Argentina, Yerson Mosquera scored the opener for Colombia, but Argentina equalized through Nico Gonzalez before Rodriguez converted a penalty to secure the victory. This win was a sweet revenge for Colombia, who had lost to Argentina in the recent Copa America final. Despite the absence of Messi, Argentina put up a strong fight, but the extreme weather conditions affected the quality of the game according to coach Lionel Scaloni.
In the Paraguay vs. Brazil match, Gomez scored the only goal from the edge of the box, with the ball deflecting off the goalkeeper’s post. Brazil, who were missing Neymar, struggled to create opportunities and suffered their first defeat under coach Dorival Junior. The defeat raised questions about Brazil’s tactics and confidence, with the team currently in fifth place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the World Cup.
In other CONMEBOL qualifiers, Bolivia upset Chile, Ecuador beat Peru, and Venezuela drew with Uruguay. Argentina currently lead the round-robin competition with 18 points, followed closely by Colombia with 16 points. Uruguay and Ecuador are also in the running for qualification, while Brazil will need to improve their performance in order to secure a place in the World Cup 2026 with the expanded format featuring 48 teams.
Despite the defeats, both Argentina and Brazil are still on track to qualify for the World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The top six finishers in the South American qualifiers will earn direct berths to the finals, while the seventh-placed team will enter an inter-confederation playoff. The bottom three teams will be eliminated from the competition, making each match crucial for teams vying for a spot in the prestigious tournament.
