Argentina Crush Brazil 4-1 to Secure 2026 World Cup Qualification

Argentina put on a dominant display in Buenos Aires, thrashing Brazil 4-1 to secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Even without Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, the reigning world champions were in complete control, sending a strong message to their South American rivals.

The build-up to the match was heated, with Brazil’s Raphinha making bold claims that his team would “beat up” Argentina. His words, however, only served as motivation for the home side, who responded in the best way possible on the pitch.

First-Half Dominance

Argentina wasted no time asserting their authority, scoring inside the first five minutes. Thiago Almada played a clever pass to Julián Álvarez, who poked the ball past Brazil's goalkeeper Bento. Just minutes later, Nahuel Molina’s cross found Enzo Fernández at the back post, and the Chelsea midfielder tapped in Argentina’s second goal.

Brazil found a way back into the game after Cristian Romero made a costly mistake. The Tottenham defender took too long on the ball, allowing Matheus Cunha to pounce and slot home a goal in the 26th minute. Despite this, Argentina remained in control, and their relentless attack paid off again. Enzo Fernández turned provider, setting up Alexis Mac Allister for Argentina’s third goal before halftime.

Second Half: Argentina in Total Control

Brazil struggled to respond in the second half as Argentina continued to dominate. Álvarez nearly added another goal with a clever chip that was tipped over by Bento. Later, Nicolás Tagliafico sent a header over the bar after a dangerous cross from Fernández. However, the left-back made amends by assisting Argentina’s fourth goal. His cross found Giuliano Simeone, who smashed in his first international goal off the crossbar from a tight angle in the 71st minute.

Tensions Boil Over

The match wasn’t just about goals it was filled with drama. Raphinha, the man who had spoken so confidently before the game, found himself at the centre of the chaos. After being fouled by Tagliafico, he pushed the Argentine defender, sparking a melee between both teams. Nicolás Otamendi delivered a simple but effective message to the Brazilian winger: “Talk less.”

Argentina’s fans made their feelings clear too, chanting insults at Raphinha and mocking his pre-match bravado. Even on the pitch, players like Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández had a few words for him, reminding him that backing up big talk requires performance.

Meanwhile, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had his own moment of showboating, juggling the ball at the back to the delight of the home crowd. As the final whistle blew, Argentina’s players celebrated in style, even mocking Brazil by singing that their rivals were “dead”.

A Statement Victory

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s effort, saying, “This was a team victory. We played as a team, and that’s why we were able to minimise Brazil.” He also downplayed Raphinha’s comments, stating, “I excuse him. He was defending his country.”

With this win, Argentina became the first South American team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil, on the other hand, still have work to do to ensure their place in the tournament. After such a humiliating defeat, the pressure is now on them to recover in their upcoming qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.