FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Argentina’s squad, led by Lionel Messi, exuberantly celebrated as if they had clinched another World Cup title following a thrilling 1-0 victory over archrival Brazil on Tuesday.
This marked Brazil’s inaugural home defeat in World Cup qualifying, a match that faced a delay due to a brawl among fans in the stands. Numerous spectators had gathered at the Maracana to witness what could possibly be Messi’s final match in Brazil, a superclasico against the hosts. However, the spotlight shifted when Nicolás Otamendi scored the lone goal of the match.
This defeat constituted Brazil’s third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament, posing a challenge for the new coach, Fernando Diniz. Additionally, it marked the first instance since 2009 that the five-time World Cup winners failed to score in a home game. In the 78th minute, Messi departed from the pitch to a blend of both jeers and applause from the Brazilian fans. Numerous children, adorned in shirts from Barcelona, Messi’s former club, and Inter Miami, gathered at the Maracana.
Despite his efforts, the Argentine star couldn’t overcome one of the final challenges in his illustrious career, falling short of scoring against the Brazilians in a World Cup qualifier at the Maracana.
After the victory, the Argentina squad reveled on the pitch for a jubilant 10 minutes, fully aware of their leadership in the South American qualifying standings. In a heartfelt gesture, they provided the fans with an additional opportunity to celebrate a triumph at the iconic Rio de Janeiro stadium. Notably, two years ago, Ángel di Maria had scored the solitary goal in an empty Maracana, securing the Copa America title for his team.
The tumultuous pre-match incident, erupting shortly after the national anthems, caused a 27-minute delay in the start. Lionel Messi took charge, guiding his team off the field and into the locker rooms for a period of 22 minutes. The repercussions of the brawl were evident, with at least one fan leaving the stadium with a head injury. Rio police reported the arrest of eight individuals in connection with the altercation. The aggression among the crowd spilled onto the field in the initial 20 minutes of the match, leading the referee to issue a series of fouls against Brazil during that period. Eventually, the tension subsided, allowing Argentina to avoid direct confrontations.
Despite Brazil’s missed opportunities, including Raphinha’s free kick in the 38th minute and a crucial save by Cristian Romero near the goal line six minutes later following a shot by Gabriel Martinelli, the match continued with heightened intensity. Brazil maintained their offensive efforts after the break, with Rodrygo compelling goalkeeper Dibu Martinez into a close-range save in the 54th minute.
However, Argentina’s breakthrough in the 63rd minute, courtesy of a header by Otamendi, who soared above the Brazilian defenders to connect with a corner kick, was one of the limited opportunities the team created. Addressing a news conference, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remarked, “This is a beautiful win, but it has no comparison with what we achieved in Qatar. You know it is not easy to win here, but we managed to.”
Despite the anticipation surrounding teenager Endrick, one of Brazil’s promising prospects, his impact was minimal after entering the game in the 72nd minute. In the 81st minute, midfielder Joelinton, newly substituted for Brazil, received a red card for pushing an Argentine player. The match concluded with Brazil fans chanting “ole” for every touch of the Argentinians, while visiting supporters waved their shirts as some of their players celebrated on the pitch.
In the 10-team continental qualifying competition, Argentina leads with 15 points from six matches, followed by Uruguay with 13 points and Colombia with 12. Venezuela holds the next spot with nine points, while Ecuador, which began the qualifying with -3 points due to a FIFA punishment, has accumulated eight points. As the year concludes, Brazil is positioned in sixth place with seven points, maintaining a two-point lead over Paraguay and Chile.
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, which will feature 48 teams, the top six teams from South America will secure direct entry. The seventh-place team has the opportunity to earn a berth through an intercontinental playoff.
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