Argentina triumphs, Brazil stumbles on World Cup Qualifier day

Argentina continued their dominant run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Chile, while South American rivals Brazil faltered with a goalless draw against Ecuador.

The reigning world champions secured their latest victory at home, with rising star Julián Álvarez scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute. Head coach Lionel Scaloni made several changes to the starting lineup, resting key players Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez. Messi entered the match in the 58th minute but didn’t find the net during his 40 minutes on the field. Still, Argentina celebrated a successful return for their captain.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s road to the World Cup remains uncertain. Under the leadership of newly appointed coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw against Ecuador at the Monumental Stadium. The hosts dominated large portions of the game and came close to clinching a win, with Brazil escaping with a point largely due to luck.

With the draw, Brazil now sit fourth in the South American standings with 22 points from 15 matches. In contrast, Argentina remain comfortably on top with 34 points from the same number of games, becoming the first Latin American team to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Ancelotti's debut as Brazil coach may have ended in frustration, but all eyes will now be on how the Seleção responds in their upcoming fixtures.