Reigning world champions Argentina secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, thrashing arch-rivals Brazil 4-1 in Buenos Aires during the South American qualifiers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez, Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone found the net for “La Albiceleste,” who had already confirmed their qualification before kickoff, thanks to Bolivia\u2019s goalless draw with Uruguay.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Argentina has become a nightmare for Brazil, remaining unbeaten against them since their loss in the 2019 Copa Am\u00e9rica semifinals. Since then, Lionel Messi\u2019s teammates\u2014despite his absence due to injury\u2014have won four times and drawn once, including a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the iconic Maracan\u00e3 Stadium in November 2023.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico Madrid striker \u00c1lvarez opened the scoring just four minutes in, converting a Thiago Almada assist past Al-Nassr\u2019s goalkeeper Bento. Eight minutes later, Brazil\u2019s defense failed to clear a cross, allowing Chelsea midfielder Fern\u00e1ndez to slot home from close range.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Brazil found a lifeline in the 26th minute when Tottenham\u2019s Cristian Romero lost possession, allowing Matheus Cunha to steal the ball and fire a low shot past Emiliano Mart\u00ednez from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
However, Argentina swiftly regained control, extending their lead in the 37th minute through a stunning Mac Allister strike. Almada once again provided the assist, setting up the Liverpool midfielder for a first-time finish inside the box to make it 3-1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Argentina continued their dominance, sealing the victory in the 71st minute when young winger Giuliano Simeone smashed a powerful shot into the top of the net from a tight angle. This marked the first international goal for the 22-year-old son of Atl\u00e9tico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
With 31 points from 14 matches in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, Argentina sits comfortably at the top, 16 points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela, with only four matches remaining.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s head coach Lionel Scaloni, who was also without Lautaro Mart\u00ednez due to injury, praised his squad\u2019s performance: \u201cThis was a collective victory. We played as a team, and that\u2019s why we managed to overpower Brazil.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Scaloni, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title against France in a penalty shootout, added: \u201cI don\u2019t know if this is our greatest victory, but the team needs to know how to respond in different situations. Tonight, the young players delivered an outstanding performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The top six teams from South America qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Argentina becomes the fourth team to qualify through the qualifiers, joining Japan, New Zealand, and Iran.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The 2026 edition will mark Argentina\u2019s 19th appearance at the World Cup since their debut in the inaugural 1930 tournament in Uruguay, where they finished as runners-up. <\/p>\n
Argentina has only missed four editions (1938, 1950, 1954, and 1970) and has lifted the trophy three times (1978 as hosts, 1986 in Mexico, and most recently in Qatar 2022).<\/p>\n
They have also finished as runners-up three times\u2014first in 1930 and then twice against Germany in 1990 (Italy) and 2014 (Brazil).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Brazil now sits fourth in the standings with 21 points, level with Uruguay but trailing on goal difference, while staying ahead of Paraguay by the same margin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Brazil coach Dorival J\u00fanior admitted his side was outclassed: \u201cOur game plan didn\u2019t work from the first minute. I take full responsibility for what happened. Argentina outplayed us and deserved to win.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Reigning world champions Argentina secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, thrashing arch-rivals Brazil 4-1 in Buenos Aires during the South American qualifiers. Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez, Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone found the net for “La Albiceleste,” who had already confirmed their qualification before kickoff, thanks to Bolivia\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Betway Bahrain: Reigning world champions Argentina secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion","footnotes":"","href_lang_slug_x_default":"","href_lang_slug_ae":"","href_lang_slug_sa":"","href_lang_slug_eg":"","href_lang_slug_lb":"","href_lang_slug_kw":"","href_lang_slug_bh":"","href_lang_slug_om":"","href_lang_slug_jo":"","href_lang_slug_qa":"","href_lang_slug_tn":"","href_lang_slug_ma":"","href_lang_slug_dz":""},"categories":[882],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"acf":{"_post_img":5522,"description":"
Reigning world champions Argentina secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, thrashing arch-rivals Brazil 4-1 in Buenos Aires during the South American qualifiers.<\/p>
<\/p>
Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez, Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone found the net for \"La Albiceleste,\" who had already confirmed their qualification before kickoff, thanks to Bolivia\u2019s goalless draw with Uruguay.<\/p>
<\/p>
Argentina has become a nightmare for Brazil, remaining unbeaten against them since their loss in the 2019 Copa Am\u00e9rica semifinals. Since then, Lionel Messi\u2019s teammates\u2014despite his absence due to injury\u2014have won four times and drawn once, including a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the iconic Maracan\u00e3 Stadium in November 2023.<\/p>
<\/p>
Atl\u00e9tico Madrid striker \u00c1lvarez opened the scoring just four minutes in, converting a Thiago Almada assist past Al-Nassr\u2019s goalkeeper Bento. Eight minutes later, Brazil\u2019s defense failed to clear a cross, allowing Chelsea midfielder Fern\u00e1ndez to slot home from close range.<\/p>
<\/p>
Brazil found a lifeline in the 26th minute when Tottenham\u2019s Cristian Romero lost possession, allowing Matheus Cunha to steal the ball and fire a low shot past Emiliano Mart\u00ednez from the edge of the area.<\/p>
<\/p>
However, Argentina swiftly regained control, extending their lead in the 37th minute through a stunning Mac Allister strike. Almada once again provided the assist, setting up the Liverpool midfielder for a first-time finish inside the box to make it 3-1.<\/p>
<\/p>
Argentina continued their dominance, sealing the victory in the 71st minute when young winger Giuliano Simeone smashed a powerful shot into the top of the net from a tight angle. This marked the first international goal for the 22-year-old son of Atl\u00e9tico Madrid coach Diego Simeone.<\/p>
<\/p>
With 31 points from 14 matches in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, Argentina sits comfortably at the top, 16 points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela, with only four matches remaining.<\/p>
<\/p>
Argentina\u2019s head coach Lionel Scaloni, who was also without Lautaro Mart\u00ednez due to injury, praised his squad\u2019s performance: \u201cThis was a collective victory. We played as a team, and that\u2019s why we managed to overpower Brazil.\u201d<\/p>
<\/p>
Scaloni, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title against France in a penalty shootout, added: \u201cI don\u2019t know if this is our greatest victory, but the team needs to know how to respond in different situations. Tonight, the young players delivered an outstanding performance.\u201d<\/p>
<\/p>
The top six teams from South America qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Argentina becomes the fourth team to qualify through the qualifiers, joining Japan, New Zealand, and Iran.<\/p>
<\/p>
The 2026 edition will mark Argentina\u2019s 19th appearance at the World Cup since their debut in the inaugural 1930 tournament in Uruguay, where they finished as runners-up. <\/p>
Argentina has only missed four editions (1938, 1950, 1954, and 1970) and has lifted the trophy three times (1978 as hosts, 1986 in Mexico, and most recently in Qatar 2022).<\/p>
They have also finished as runners-up three times\u2014first in 1930 and then twice against Germany in 1990 (Italy) and 2014 (Brazil).<\/p>
<\/p>
Meanwhile, Brazil now sits fourth in the standings with 21 points, level with Uruguay but trailing on goal difference, while staying ahead of Paraguay by the same margin.<\/p>
<\/p>
Brazil coach Dorival J\u00fanior admitted his side was outclassed: \u201cOur game plan didn\u2019t work from the first minute. I take full responsibility for what happened. Argentina outplayed us and deserved to win.\u201d<\/p>","continue_text":"Continue Reading","main_heading":"Blog"},"yoast_head":"\n