Defending champions Argentina have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The 2022 world champions will get the chance to defend their crown in the USA, Mexico and Canada following Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay on Tuesday, with the goalless draw meaning they are unable to drop out of the top six places in the CONMEBOL qualifying table.
Lionel Scaloni’s side, who have also won the last two Copa Americas, have amassed 28 points from their 13 games so far, winning nine of them ahead of facing Brazil this evening.
Argentina have five games left of their qualifying campaign, taking on Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador after hosting Brazil this evening.
La Albiceleste beat Uruguay 1-0 last Friday courtesy of a Thiago Almada goal which put them on the brink of qualifying for the tournament.
They will be looking to be crowned world champions for the fourth time, having added 2022 to their 1978 and 1986 titles.
¡Felicitaciones @Argentina! 🇦🇷🥳
El vigente campeón saca boleto para la #CopaMundialFIFA 2026 ✈️🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/WgZyKryqug
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) March 25, 2025
Their qualification means there woll be a carnival atmosphere at El Monumental ahead of facing rivals Brazil tonight.
The Selecao have been vocal in the build-up with Barcelona playmaker Raphinha stoking the fires by telling Romario in an interview: “We will beat them, no doubt. On and off the pitch, if we have to.”
He added: “F*** them.”
Argentina boss Scaloni tried to play down the hostility in his pre-match press conference by insisting: “It’s a soccer match, 90 minutes where each one wants to win. It doesn’t need to go beyond that, and it won’t go beyond that.”
