World Cup-2026: Brazil overthrows Chile, Argentina slowed down in Venezuela

In difficulty in these qualifiers and only 4th, Brazil took three precious points against a Chilean team which risks missing a third consecutive World Cup after failing to qualify for Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

Arriving in Santiago dejected, with four defeats in five matches, the Brazilian selection conceded a goal in the 2nd minute on a lobbed header from Eduardo Vargas.

The Dorival Júnior team, which could not count on its star striker from Real Madrid Vinicius Junior, equalized with his replacement at the forefront of the attack Igor Jesus (45th + 1) before winning thanks to a shot rolled up by Luiz Henrique (89th).

Five-time world champions Brazil, who have never missed a World Cup, are fourth with 13 points, while Chile are 9th and second-to-last with five points. The first six qualify directly, the seventh will compete in a play-off.

Messi holder and unhappy

In Venezuela, with Lionel Messi playing the entire match, Argentina was held to a draw on a soggy pitch at the Monumental Stadium in Maturin.

The Albiceleste opened the scoring with Nicolas Otamendi on a mix-up (13th), but the historic scorer of Vinotinto, Salomon Rondon, equalized (65th) with a beautiful header.

“There is only one explanation: the conditions were not right to play today. It’s obvious,” said Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni bitterly.

“It was very difficult. “It makes the game very ugly, very difficult, we couldn’t make two passes in a row,” Messi also railed.

Second in the ranking, Colombia lost its invincibility against Bolivia, practically invincible when it plays in El Alto, at 4,150 meters above sea level.

Results and ranking after the matches of the 9th day on Thursday:

Bolivia – Colombia 1 – 0

Ecuador – Paraguay 0 – 0

Venezuela – Argentine 1 – 1

Chile – Brazil 1 – 2

Saturday October 12 (in Paris time, GMT+2)

(03:30) Peru – Uruguay

Ranking: Pts J G N P bp bc dif

1. Argentine 19 9 6 1 2 13 5 8

2. Colombia 16 9 4 4 1 9 6 3

3. Uruguay 15 8 4 3 1 13 5 8

4. Brazil 13 9 4 1 4 11 9 2

5. Ecuador 12 9 4 3 2 6 4 2

6. Bolivia 12 9 4 0 5 11 15 -4

7. Venezuela 11 9 2 5 2 7 8 -1

8. Paraguay 10 9 2 4 3 2 3 -1

9. Chili 5 9 1 2 6 5 14 -9

10. Peru 3 8 0 3 5 2 10 -8

As a reminder, the first six qualify directly for the World Cup. The seventh will compete in a play-off.