Thiago Almada’s stunning strike secured Argentina a 1-0 win over Uruguay in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Friday. Almada scored with a powerful curled shot from the edge of the box, putting the defending champions just one point away from securing direct qualification for next year’s tournament.
Despite missing Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and other key players, Argentina delivered a convincing performance against Uruguay. With this victory, Argentina leads the South American qualifying table with 28 points after 13 matches. A draw against Brazil at home on Tuesday will be enough to guarantee their spot in the World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s team is 15 points clear of 7th-placed Bolivia, with only five rounds left in the competition. In their last encounter, Argentina had beaten Brazil 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Meanwhile, Ecuador edged past Venezuela 2-1 earlier on Friday, moving into second place in the standings and boosting their chances of qualifying. Brazil currently holds third place with 21 points, followed closely by Uruguay and Paraguay. Colombia sits in sixth place with 19 points.
The top six teams in the South American qualifiers will directly secure berths for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The 7th-placed team will get another opportunity to qualify through an international playoff.
With Argentina in prime position to book their place in the World Cup, their upcoming clash with Brazil will be crucial. Uruguay, meanwhile, will look to bounce back and strengthen their qualification hopes in the remaining matches.
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