World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina Held to Draw, Brazil’s Late Win
In an eventful night of 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, Argentina and Brazil experienced contrasting fortunes on October 10, 2024. While Argentina was held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela, Brazil secured a dramatic last-minute victory over Chile, reigniting their qualifying campaign.
Argentina, returning Lionel Messi to the lineup after his injury absence, initially looked poised for victory. Messi’s brilliant free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi for a 13th-minute opener in the Venezuelan city of Maturín.
However, despite their early lead, Argentina couldn’t maintain their advantage. Venezuela, driven by a passionate home crowd, found an equalizer in the second half. Veteran striker Salomón Rondón headed in Yeferson Soteldo’s cross, leaving the match level at 1-1.
Despite dropping points, Argentina remains in a strong position in the qualifying standings, leading with 19 points from nine matches. They are three points clear of second-placed Colombia, who suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Bolivia on the same night.
On the other hand, Brazil faced a tougher challenge against Chile. The match began in a shocking manner for the visitors as Eduardo Vargas headed Chile into an early lead just two minutes in.
Brazil struggled to find their rhythm but managed to equalize just before halftime. Savinho’s clever run and cross found Botafogo’s Igor Jesus, who headed home to make it 1-1.
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Brazil’s substitute Luiz Henrique emerged as the hero in the dying moments. In the 89th minute, he unleashed a low shot from the edge of the area, securing a 2-1 victory for the Selecao.
This win propelled Brazil into fourth place in the standings with 13 points, although they still trail leaders Argentina by six points.
Elsewhere, Bolivia continued their resurgence in the qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Colombia. A stunning individual goal from Miguel Terceros, who cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike, lifted Bolivia into the automatic qualification positions.
This win, coupled with their previous triumph over Venezuela, marks a significant turnaround for the Bolivian team, which has moved their home fixtures to El Alto in a bid to capitalize on the altitude advantage.
As the qualifying campaign progresses, Argentina looks well-positioned to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup, while Brazil’s late heroics offer hope as they seek to improve their standing.
The road to the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico continues to be a thrilling and unpredictable journey for all teams involved.
