By Dieudonne Tebit | March 26, 2025

Argentina confirmed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic style with a 4-1 demolition of fierce rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires a result that will go down as one of the most dominant in the history of South American football’s greatest rivalry.

Played at a packed Estadio Monumental, the reigning world champions dismantled a disjointed Brazilian side with clinical precision, reaffirming their supremacy in CONMEBOL and sending a message to the world ahead of next year’s expanded tournament.

A Statement Start
Argentina got off to a flying start when Julián Álvarez fired home in the 4th minute after a well-threaded pass from Thiago Almada. Just eight minutes later, Enzo Fernández doubled the lead, finishing a sweeping team move that left Brazil’s midfield and defense chasing shadows.

With the home crowd in full voice and Brazil visibly rattled, Argentina continued to apply pressure. Brazil did manage a response in the 26th minute when Matheus Cunha capitalized on a rare error from Cristian Romero to pull one back and momentarily reduce the deficit.

Ruthless Response
But the momentary glimmer of hope was quickly extinguished. Alexis Mac Allister restored Argentina’s two-goal advantage in the 37th minute with a perfectly placed strike from the edge of the box. Brazil’s confidence visibly crumbled, and by the time substitute Giuliano Simeone added a fourth in the 71st minute, the contest had become a rout.

The 4-1 final scoreline marked Brazil’s heaviest defeat in qualifying history and left their fans and federation reeling. For Argentina, it was a night of celebration dominance displayed on home soil, and against their greatest rival.

Fallout in Brazil
The result intensifies pressure on Brazil’s head coach Dorival Júnior, who has struggled to find cohesion since taking over in 2024. Captain Marquinhos publicly apologized after the match, admitting the team “let the fans down” and calling for unity as they attempt to salvage their campaign.

Brazil remains fourth in the CONMEBOL standings with 21 points, still in a qualifying position but with work to do as pressure mounts from teams below.

Argentina Marches On
Meanwhile, Argentina tops the standings with 31 points, officially becoming the first South American nation to secure their place at the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

With qualification now confirmed, head coach Lionel Scaloni can focus on fine-tuning his squad and strategy. The likes of Álvarez, Fernández, and Mac Allister continue to prove they are more than ready to carry the torch from the Lionel Messi era into a bold new future.