World Cup qualification in South America: Argentina defeat against Uruguay

World champion Argentina left the field as a loser for the first time after winning the title in Qatar. The team around world footballer Lionel Messi lost 0-2 against Uruguay in Buenos Aires on Thursday evening. Brazil suffered its second defeat against Colombia in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

World champions Argentina (12 points) are still at the top despite the home defeat against their neighbors after five games. Uruguay (10) moved closer to their rivals as second in the table.

Araujo and Nunez shock Argentina at Bombonera

Ronald Araujo (41st minute) and Darwin Nunez (87th) scored goals for Uruguay’s hard-fought away win at the Bombonera Stadium. Argentina had previously remained unbeaten 14 times in a row, the last defeat coming at the 2022 World Cup: At the start of the group phase there was a completely surprising 1:2 against Saudi Arabia.

Messi was on the pitch for the entire game on Thursday; it was his first competitive game in almost a month. He missed the playoffs with his club Inter Miami in the American MLS. On the other hand, striker Luis Suarez was back in Uruguay’s squad for the first time since the World Cup, but did not play.

Brazil is only in fifth place after defeat against Colombia

Brazil, on the other hand, lost touch for the time being. The record world champions lost 1:2 (1:0) in Colombia, Luis Diaz from Liverpool FC turned the game around for the hosts with two goals (75th/79th) in the final phase. For the Brazilians, who had to compete without their injured leader Neymar, it was already the second defeat in qualifying; for now that is only enough for fifth place behind Colombia (9) and Venezuela (8).

This is how World Cup qualification works

The best six Teams The South American qualifiers are allowed to go to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The seventh-placed team still has the chance to advance to the intercontinental event, which is taking place for the first time Playofftournament in March 2026. The last two World Cup starting places will be awarded there, and all continents except Europe are represented.

For the first time, 48 teams will take part in the mega World Cup from June 11th to July 19th instead of the previous 32. In Europe, the qualifying games will take place from March to November 2025. The twelve group winners qualify directly for the final round. The group runners-up and the four best-placed group winners Nations League 2024/25, who are not in the top two places of their group in qualifying, will play a continental in March 2026 Playoff-Tournament for the remaining four World Cup tickets.