Argentina vs Chile: Argentina beat Chile 1-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifier with Julián Alvarez goal. Lionel Messi came on in the second half as Argentina lead the table. The match was played in Santiago, Chile, where Alvarez struck in the 16th minute after receiving a neat pass from Thiago Almada. It was the only goal of the game, giving Argentina all three points.
Lionel Messi started the match on the bench and came on in the second half. Argentina had already confirmed their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
After 15 matches, Argentina remain at the top of the South American qualifying table with 34 points. Chile, with just 10 points, sit at the bottom and have now been eliminated from the race for direct qualification. Their only chance is to win all their remaining three matches and hope for a playoff spot.
The South American qualifiers use a double round-robin format, where the top six teams directly qualify for the World Cup, and the seventh-place team enters the intercontinental playoff. Chile’s task now is extremely tough, as even reaching seventh place will require a perfect run in their last three games.
Elsewhere, Brazil were held to a goalless draw against Ecuador. It was Brazil’s first game under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti. With this result, Brazil stay fourth with 22 points, while Ecuador rise to second with 24 points and are getting closer to World Cup qualification.
Paraguay produced a surprise by beating Uruguay 2-0. The victory pushes Paraguay into third place with 24 points and within reach of qualification. Uruguay are fifth with 21 points from 15 games.
Brazil now face increased pressure and must win at least two of their remaining three matches to avoid slipping out of the direct qualification spots. The race for the remaining places is heating up.
Here is the updated standings table after the latest round of FIFA World Cup Qualifier matches:
| Position | Team | Points | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 34 | 15 |
| 2 | Ecuador | 24 | 15 |
| 3 | Paraguay | 24 | 15 |
| 4 | Brazil | 22 | 15 |
| 5 | Uruguay | 21 | 15 |
| 6 | Colombia | 20 | 14 |
| 7 | Venezuela | 15 | 14 |
| 8 | Bolivia | 14 | 14 |
| 9 | Peru | 10 | 14 |
| 10 | Chile | 10 | 15 |
