In a surprising turn of events, both Brazil and Argentina suffered defeats in the latest round of South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil, the record world champion, lost 1-0 to Paraguay in Asunción, marking their fourth loss in eight qualifying matches. The sole goal came from Diego Gómez in the 20th minute, with a beautiful shot from outside the box.Despite fielding a strong attacking trio including Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo, Brazil failed to score, managing only three shots on goal despite having over 70% possession. This loss has dropped Brazil to fifth place in the standings with 10 points, putting their direct qualification for the World Cup at risk.Meanwhile, Argentina, playing without their star Lionel Messi, lost 2-1 to Colombia in Barranquilla. This defeat ended Argentina’s impressive 12-match unbeaten run. Colombia’s James Rodríguez was the hero of the match, assisting the first goal and scoring the winning penalty in the 60th minute after a VAR consultation.Despite the loss, Argentina remains at the top of the standings with 18 points. Colombia, now the only undefeated team in the South American qualifiers, has moved up to second place with 16 points.These results have significantly tightened the race for World Cup qualification in South America. With six direct spots available for the 2026 World Cup, teams like Uruguay, Ecuador, and even Bolivia are now within striking distance of the top positions. The pressure is mounting on Brazil, in particular, to improve their form in the upcoming matches to secure their place in the tournament.
Key points
- Brazil suffered their fourth loss in eight World Cup qualifying matches, falling to Paraguay 1-0.
- Argentina, playing without Lionel Messi, lost 2-1 to Colombia, ending their 12-game unbeaten streak.
- Colombia remains undefeated in the qualifiers and has moved up to second place in the standings.
- These results have tightened the race for the six direct qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in Brazil’s standing, with some sources placing them in fifth while others suggest they might be in fourth place.
👾The exact number of points for some teams varies slightly between sources, possibly due to different reporting times.
