The 2026 World Cup qualifying clash between Argentina and Brazil saw Argentina emerge victorious with a 1-0 win despite the ill-tempered atmosphere marred by pre-match crowd trouble. Nicolas Otamendi’s 63rd-minute header secured the victory for Argentina, bouncing back from last week’s defeat to Uruguay. Brazil’s third defeat of qualifying puts them in sixth place with seven points from six games. The match was delayed due to crowd trouble at the Maracana, forcing kick-off to be delayed, with Argentinian players trying to calm the fans. When play finally started, it was a tense game with niggly fouls and few goal-scoring opportunities. Otamendi’s goal ultimately led Argentina to victory as Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus received a red card. The top six teams will earn berths at the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team goes into a play-off.
