Argentina Smashes Brazil 4-1 In FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying
Julián Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Thiago Almada of Argentina after scoring the team's ... More first goal during the South of American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between Argentina and Brazil at Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti. Final Score: Argentina4:1 Brazil. (Photo by Manuel Cortina/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Argentina officially qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup on Tuesday evening, just before taking the field against Brazil in Buenos Aires. This came thanks to a draw between Bolivia and Uruguay. However what followed clearly showed that Lionel Scaloni's men are not those who rest on their laurels.
Just four minutes into the biggest international encounter in South America Julián Alvarez snuck into the box to open the scoring for hosts Argentina. This set the tone for what was to come on a night of jubilation for the current World Cup winners Argentina and despair for visiting Brazil. The game finished 4-1 to the hosts confirming their status as the world's best. The visitors hardly laid a glove on their opponents and have a lot to rectify before the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Raphinha of Brazil reacts during the South of American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between ... More Argentina and Brazil at Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on March 25, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by)
Aside from being a high profile derby, sparks were set to fly in this match after Brazil winger Raphinha decided to speak out in an interview with Brazilian legend Romario that was released on Monday. The Barcelona forward used various profanities in Portuguese whilst suggesting that Brazil would win in Buenos Aires and that he would score.
Romario's line of questioning didn't help but what surfaced from this chat was an aggressive rallying cry against Argentina. This created a storm on social media. It made Raphina look naive and gave Argentina's players an extra bit of motivation. That is the last thing you would want to give to this Argentina side.
Raphinha's comments weren't a factor in the scoreline by any means but they poured fuel on the fire and have only magnified what is Brazil's worst defeat in World Cup qualifying history.
Argentina's midfielder #17 Giuliano Simeone celebrates with his teammates Argentina's defender #16 ... More Nahuel Molina, Argentina's midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Argentina's forward #09 Julian Alvarez after scoring his team's fourth goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on March 25, 2025.
Argentina provided us with a monumental performance on the night. Lionel Messi was absent but that wasn't a problem for the team; a fantastic sign for the future. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez was also missing through injury but the likes of Julián Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister have proved stand-out performers in a team that has been wonderfully constructed by Lionel Scaloni to be even greater than the sum of its parts.
The young talent breaking into this squad is a reason for Argentina fans to be excited too. Thiago Almada has shown during this international break that he is ready to compete at the highest level of international football. Substitute Giuliano Simeone also impressed. He is a work-horse with an eye for goal and the exact type of 'squad player' that can help an international team to win trophies. Argentina has them in abundance and Scaloni has proved he is the perfect man to get the best out of everybody he calls up to the national team.
Argentina's midfielder #07 Rodrigo De Paul celebrates their victory at the end of the 2026 FIFA ... More World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on March 25, 2025.
Rodrigo De Paul said after the game 'for five or six years we have been the best team in international football. We have to enjoy this because it isn't easy to achieve.'
15 months out from the tournament, might Argentina become just the third international team in history to win back-to-back World Cups? Only Italy in 1934 and 1938 and then Brazil in 1958 and 1962 have achieved such a feat. In the context of international football cycles the World Cup is close now, and we can begin to analyse how the big teams are shaping up. Argentina hasn't done much wrong since lifting the last title in 2022, perhaps the team is even stronger now.
Argentina's emphatic 4-1 victory at home to Brazil means first place in the South American qualifying table with an eight-point advantage over second place Ecuador. Between Ecuador in second and Colombia in sixth, only three points separate five teams. Those five nations have all been competitive but inconsistent during this campaign. Argentina has set the tone with just one or two brief wobbles.
The 2022 World Cup Final is the last time Argentina faced European opposition. On the day a Kylian Mbappe inspired France very nearly completed what would have been the most historic and heartbreaking comeback in football history. However Emiliano Martínez's last second save and penalty shoot-out heroics were as era-defining as Lionel Messi's World Cup masterclass and Argentina won its third World Cup title.
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Adidas Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi (L) and adidas Golden Glove ... More winner Emiliano Martinez (R) of Argentina pose at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
Such glory would be enough to please any team, nation or indeed entire generation, but Argentina has kept up the momentum since then. As the next tournament draws closer and closer, you get the sense that the cup holders can smell blood once more. Why not do it all over again?
Argentina hasn't given us a reason to doubt since Qatar. On the contrary; the team has consolidated its position as the most consistent national team on the planet and added another Copa America title to the trophy cabinet. The prospect of Argentina taking on the likes of Spain, France or Germany in the latter rounds of the World Cup next summer is quite frankly mouth-watering.
At this exact moment, Lionel Messi's men must be considered favorites to retain the title. With or without the little magician Scaloni and his team have proved that they are winners over the last few years. Crucially also; this team is a band of brothers. They have built up the relationship of a club squad that spends every day together without having such a luxury and that relationship is obvious when they take to the field.
Brazil's forward #19 Endrick and Brazil's forward #07 Vinicius Jr acknowledge the fans at the end of ... More the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Brazil at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on March 25, 2025.
The mood on the ground in Brazil surrounding the national team has not been very positive for some time now, and defeat in such fashion to Argentina has only compounded the misery. Neymar's absence, management incompetence and a lack of clear starters and tactics has the whole country lamenting the current era of the 'Seleção.'
Real Madrid superstars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have been singled out for not replicating their club form with the national team. The defence has let in 16 goals in 14 qualifiers (more than any other of the top six teams,) and now many are questioning whether manager Dorival Júnior should be allowed to continue as coach ahead of the World Cup.
Having said that, Brazil has got time and Brazil has got talent. Whether under a new coach or not, 15 months is a sufficient period for Brazil to fix some of their on-field issues. Brazil played poorly against Argentina, yes. Brazil has played poorly for too long now, absolutely. However, last week against Colombia this squad showed some real signs of life and the team has done enough to qualify for the World Cup despite not reaching anything like its full potential.
Defeat against World Champions Argentina, in Buenos Aires, without key players like Alisson Becker, Gabriel Magalhães, Bruno Guimarães and Neymar shouldn't suggest that Brazil can't get things right on time to compete at the 2026 World Cup.
When you have won a record five World Cup titles and you are used to the likes of Pelé, Romário and Ronaldo Nazário it doesn't take much to signal a crisis. Brazil has major points to address regarding its national team but before Tuesday night it was five qualifiers unbeaten and things were finally looking up. Pride will be hurting, but Brazil shouldn't despair too much. The situation isn't great, but it could be a lot worse.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during an event in New York after an announcement related to ... More the staging of the FIFA World Cup 2026, on June 16, 2022. - Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium and the Los Angeles Rams' multi-billion-dollar SoFi Stadium were among 16 venues named on June 16 to stage games at the 2026 World Cup being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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