Udaipur, March 26, 2025: The Argentine team received good news before arriving at the Monumental Stadium. They have officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, marking the fastest qualification in their World Cup history. Who wouldn’t be happy with such news? Argentina seemed ready to play a little prank on their arch-rivals.

In the first two minutes after kick-off, the Brazilian players couldn’t touch the ball. It was clear that Lionel Scaloni and his team were in a hurry for something. With five matches left, they seemed eager to celebrate their World Cup ticket! Or maybe they were making a “cake” for their rivals on the field. If the match had gone on a little longer, the scoreline might have been even more lopsided.

Early Dominance by Argentina

From the start, Argentina dominated like they were quickly putting together a masterpiece. They scored early, then added another before halftime. By the end, they had scored four goals in total. Argentina triumphed with a convincing 4-1 victory. Within the first 3 minutes and 47 seconds, Julian Alvarez scored—making it the third-fastest goal in a Brazil-Argentina World Cup qualifier. Brazil, still trying to get a grip on the game, was behind by two goals just 12 minutes in. Enzo Fernandez scored the second goal, and Brazil was still unable to mount a meaningful attack. In fact, they had no shots on goal in the first half. This marked a new record for Brazil—they had never conceded two goals so quickly in a World Cup qualifier.

Brazil Pulls One Back

Argentina seemed to give Brazil a glimmer of hope when Cristian Romero made a mistake in the 26th minute. Romero, one of Argentina’s defensive pillars, hesitated and allowed Mathias Cunha to close in on him. Romero tried to dribble past Cunha but failed, and Cunha’s powerful shot found the back of the net. It was Brazil's first goal in the match and their first shot on goal in the entire game. It was also the first time Brazil scored against Argentina since the 2019 Copa America semi-final.

Argentina Strikes Back

However, Argentina quickly regained control. Thiago Almada tested Brazil's goalkeeper Bento with a powerful shot in the 36th minute. Just a minute later, Alexis McAllister scored Argentina's third goal, following a perfect pass from Fernandez. Brazil had now conceded three goals in the first half, something that hadn't happened against Argentina since 2005.

First Half Stats

In the first half, Argentina had 61% possession and fired four shots on Brazil’s goal. Alvarez scored the first goal after Almada's brilliant pass, which sliced through Brazil's defense. Fernandez's goal, a result of 33 passes, and Nahuel Molina’s 35th-minute effort, showcased Argentina's excellent team play.

Brazil Struggles After the Break

Brazil made three substitutions at halftime in hopes of turning the match around. Rodrigo was replaced by Endrick, Joelinton by Joao Gomez, and Murillo was substituted for Leo Ortiz after receiving a yellow card. However, these changes did little to improve Brazil's play. The midfield was disconnected from the attack, and the defense continued to be shaky under pressure. Almada missed a chance in the 56th minute, and Nicolas Tagliafico had a clear header from inside the box in the 61st minute but failed to score.

Argentina Adds Another Goal

Rafinha tried his best for Brazil, hitting the post from a free kick, but there was no urgency in their play. Argentina continued to press and scored again in the 71st minute when Giuliano Simeone, who had replaced Almada, found the net. Simeone, the son of former Argentine defender Diego Simeone, scored from a difficult angle after a cross from Tagliafico.

Missed Opportunities for Argentina

Argentina could have scored even more. Fernandez had a chance in the 91st minute, and Rodrigo De Paul missed a shot just two minutes later. Bento also made a save against Leandro Paredes in the 81st minute. After the break, Brazil failed to get a single shot on Argentina’s goal. Brazil committed 19 fouls, compared to Argentina’s 12.

Argentina Fans Celebrate Early

Before the match even started, Argentina was assured of qualification to the 2026 World Cup after Bolivia failed to beat Uruguay. The Argentine fans, in high spirits, cheered loudly when Alvarez’s name was announced over the stadium’s microphone. Brazil’s Rafinha had made bold comments before the game, claiming he would "crush" Argentina and "score a goal." However, by the 40th minute, Rafinha was fouled by Tagliafico, and the Argentine fans were even more fired up.

Brazil’s Historic Defeat

This match turned out to be a nightmare for Brazil. It was the first time since their 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final that Brazil had conceded four goals in a competitive match. It was also the first time they had conceded four goals to a South American team since the 1987 Copa America.

South American Qualifying Standings

After the victory, Argentina is at the top of the South American World Cup qualification table with 31 points from 14 matches. Ecuador follows in second place with 23 points from the same number of matches. Uruguay is in third with 21 points, level with Brazil, who is fourth.