Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. express frustration following their teams' defeats in World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Colombia and Paraguay.
In a dramatic night of World Cup 2026 qualifying, football powerhouses Brazil and Argentina both stumbled, suffering unexpected defeats that have shaken up the South American qualifying standings.
Brazil’s Slump Continues with 1-0 Defeat to Paraguay
A five-time World Cup champion, Brazil finds itself in unfamiliar territory after a 1-0 loss to Paraguay in Asuncion. It marks Brazil’s fourth defeat in their last five qualifying matches, raising serious concerns about their World Cup hopes.
The lone goal came early, with Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez finding the back of the net in the 20th minute. Brazil, fielding a star-studded lineup that included Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, and Real Madrid trio Rodrygo, Endrick, and Vinicius Jr., failed to produce a single shot on target in the first half.
Despite excelling at Real Madrid, Brazil’s recent struggles were highlighted by Vinicius Jr., who has yet to replicate that form for his country. With only five goals in 35 international appearances, the 24-year-old winger expressed his frustration post-match:
“I want to apologize to the fans. It’s been tough, and we’re working to improve,” said Vinicius in a post-match interview with Globo. “Confidence is lacking, and it’s affecting our performance.”
Brazil’s manager, Dorival Jr., who took over in January 2024, is under increasing pressure. Since his appointment, Brazil has exited the Copa América at the quarter-final stage and now sits precariously in fifth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, with just three wins from eight games.
“We are still figuring out the best system for this team. It’s a transitional period,” said defender Marquinhos. “Confidence is low, and results reflect that, but we must keep working.”
Argentina Falls 2-1 to Colombia Without Messi
In another shocking result, reigning world champions Argentina were beaten 2-1 by Colombia in Barranquilla. Without their talisman, Lionel Messi, Argentina struggled to find a rhythm and was punished by a motivated Colombian side seeking revenge for their Copa America final defeat just two months earlier.
Former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez was the night’s hero, assisting Yerson Mosquera’s headed goal in the 25th minute and later converting a penalty in the 60th minute to secure the victory. Rodriguez, now playing for Rayo Vallecano in Spain, delivered an excellent performance to lead his team to a crucial victory.
“I don’t think I’ve ever scored against Argentina before—there’s a first time for everything,” said Rodriguez. “This victory is even sweeter, considering who we were against.”
Argentina managed to briefly equalize through Nicolas Gonzalez, who scored three minutes into the second half. However, a rash challenge by Nicolas Otamendi on Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz led to a penalty, confirmed by VAR. Rodriguez calmly slotted the spot-kick past Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, securing the win for Colombia.
Despite the loss, Argentina remains top of the 10-team South American qualifying group, leading Colombia by two points. With 18 rounds of fixtures running until September 2025, Argentina’s automatic qualification hopes are still alive, but the defeat exposed vulnerabilities without Messi in the lineup.
South American Qualification Race Heats Up
The South American qualifiers are proving more competitive than ever. With the top six teams guaranteed a spot in the 2026 World Cup and the seventh team facing an intercontinental playoff, every match matters. Brazil, currently in fifth place, needs to recover quickly to avoid the risk of slipping into the playoff spot, while Colombia’s win moves them within striking distance of automatic qualification.
Elsewhere, Uruguay was held to a goalless draw against Venezuela, while Argentina’s lead at the top is still intact despite the defeat. The race to secure a spot at the World Cup is intensifying as teams look to build momentum heading into the final extend of qualifying.
Asia’s Qualifying Action: Japan Thrives, Australia Struggles
While the South American giants stumbled, action in the Asian qualifiers saw contrasting fortunes for the big teams. Japan, featuring Premier League stars like Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), and Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), cruised to a 5-0 victory over Bahrain, asserting their dominance in the group.
Meanwhile, Australia continued its struggles, being held to a 0-0 draw against Indonesia, following a 1-0 loss to Bahrain last week. With top teams like Japan pulling ahead, Australia will need to regroup quickly if it hopes to qualify for the World Cup.
With two years of qualifying left, the journey to the 2026 World Cup is proving to be full of surprises, as even the best teams in the world face challenges on the road to glory. Fans around the globe will be watching closely to see how these football powerhouses recover from their setbacks and whether they can secure their places on the biggest stage in world football.
