Argentina extended their lead in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with a decisive 3-0 victory over Chile on Thursday at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister broke the deadlock with a low strike three minutes after halftime. Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez then added a second with a powerful long-range shot in the 84th minute. Paulo Dybala, coming off the bench, sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time.
This win reaffirms Argentina’s strong position in the qualification campaign, moving them closer to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The reigning champions now lead the South American qualification table by five points after seven matches.
The top six teams from the South American round-robin will qualify directly for the finals, while the seventh-placed team will advance to a playoff. Despite missing star captain Lionel Messi and veteran winger Angel Di Maria, who retired from international football after their Copa America triumph, Argentina demonstrated their depth and attacking prowess. Lautaro Martinez and Alvarez created significant trouble for Chile’s defense, while Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, and Enzo Fernandez dominated midfield.
In a closely contested first half, Argentina found their breakthrough in the 48th minute when Alvarez’s low cross was expertly finished by Mac Allister.
Elsewhere, Bolivia reignited their qualification hopes with a 4-0 victory over Venezuela in a high-altitude match played in El Alto, over 4,000 meters above sea level. Goals from Ramiro Vaca, Carmelo Algaranaz, Miguel Terceros, and Enzo Monteiro gave Bolivia only their second win of the campaign, lifting them to seventh place in the standings.
Venezuela’s coach Fernando Batista dismissed questions about the altitude, focusing instead on his team’s performance. Despite the loss, Venezuela remains in a strong position, sitting fourth with nine points. They will face Uruguay next Tuesday in their eighth qualifying match.