Brazil and Uruguay battled to a 1-1 draw, while Argentina edged Peru 1-0 to strengthen their hold on the top of the standings in South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After the win, Argentina are on the brink of qualification, while Brazil faced mounting pressure in the race for a spot.
BRAZIL SHARE POINTS
Playing at home, Brazil had to settle for a draw against a resilient Uruguay side. Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a spectacular low drive from outside the box. The visitors looked poised to take all three points until Flamengo’s Gerson equalized just seven minutes later. The midfielder capitalized on a defensive error with a stunning volley, marking his first international goal.
Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, now sit fifth in the CONMEBOL standings with 18 points, trailing Colombia and Ecuador by a single point. Uruguay, on the other hand, remains second with 20 points, five behind Argentina. This was Brazil’s second consecutive draw in the qualifiers, adding to concerns about their consistency heading into the crucial stages of qualification.
ARGENTINA BEAT PERU
In Buenos Aires, a second-half strike from Lautaro Martnez secured a narrow victory for Argentina over a struggling Peru side. Martnez found the net in the 55th minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Lionel Messi. The goal brought Martnez level with Diego Maradona as Argentina’s fifth-highest scorer in history.
The win keeps Argentina firmly atop the standings with 25 points from 12 matches, five ahead of Uruguay. Peru, rooted at the bottom with just seven points, faces a steep climb to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Despite the victory, Messi’s subdued performance mirrored his struggles in Argentina’s previous 2-1 loss to Paraguay. Meanwhile, Julián lvarez hit the post in the 21st minute, highlighting the hosts’ inability to capitalize on more chances.
Elsewhere in CONMEBOL Qualifying:
Ecuador 1-0 Colombia: Enner Valencia’s dazzling solo goal in the seventh minute secured a hard-fought win for Ecuador, who played with 10 men after Piero Hincapié’s red card in the 34th minute.
Bolivia 2-2 Paraguay: A thrilling contest saw Bolivia and Paraguay share the spoils, with both teams likely to battle for the playoff spot in seventh place.
Chile 4-2 Venezuela: Chile displayed a revived spirit, with Eduardo Vargas, Lucas Cepeda, and an own goal from Tomás Rinc³n leading the charge. Venezuela’s Jefferson Savarino and Ruben Ramirez scored in a losing effort.
