Uruguay put an end to Argentina’s 14-match unbeaten streak by securing a 2-0 victory in the World Cup qualifiers. Defender Ronald Araujo struck first in the 41st minute, followed by a decisive 87th-minute goal from Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez. This marked Lionel Messi and Argentina’s initial defeat in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and their first loss since the 2022 finals in Qatar.
Post-match, Messi acknowledged the challenging nature of the game, praising Uruguay’s physicality and the tactical brilliance of their coach, Marcelo Bielsa. Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back for the upcoming clash with Brazil, emphasizing that they are not unbeatable.
Despite the loss, Argentina maintains its lead in the standings with 12 points from five matches, while Uruguay’s victory places them in second position with 10 points.
In another thrilling encounter, Luis Diaz of Liverpool scored a dramatic double within five minutes, leading Colombia to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Brazil in Barranquilla. Diaz’s outstanding performance came amid personal challenges, including the recent hostage situation involving his father, who tearfully witnessed the match in the stands.
Diaz’s goals overturned Brazil’s early lead from Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli, and the victory propelled Colombia to third place with nine points from five games. Brazil faced further disappointment with an injury to Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., who exited the game after 27 minutes.
Other results in the South American qualifiers included a goalless draw between Venezuela and Ecuador, Bolivia securing their first points with a 2-0 home win over Peru, and a goalless draw between Chile and Paraguay. Following the draw, Chile’s coach Eduardo Berizzo resigned, leaving ‘La Roja’ in eighth place with five points from five games.
The top six teams in the qualifying tournament will earn berths at the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team will enter a playoff.
