Argentina marked their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a resounding 4-1 demolition of arch-rivals Brazil at the Estadio Monumental on Tuesday, extending their imperious record to eight wins in nine home World Cup qualifiers. The victory, fueled by a rampant first-half display, cemented Argentina�s dominance atop the CONMEBOL qualifying table while plunging Brazil into fourth place, ending their five-game unbeaten streak.
The hosts, already assured of their World Cup berth before kickoff, wasted no time asserting their supremacy. Just five minutes in, Thiago Almada slipped a precise pass to Julian Alvarez, who poked the ball past Brazil�s goalkeeper Bento to ignite the raucous home crowd. The lead doubled shortly after when Nahuel Molina�s pinpoint cross found Enzo Fernandez unmarked at the back post for a simple tap-in.
Brazil briefly clawed their way back into the contest when Cristian Romero�s dawdling on the ball gifted Matheus Cunha an interception. The forward made no mistake, rifling a low shot into the bottom corner to mark the first time both sides had scored in nine head-to-head encounters. However, that proved to be Brazil�s lone moment of joy in a first half dominated by Argentina, with Cunha�s strike their only shot on target.
Argentina�s relentless pressure soon restored their two-goal cushion. Fernandez turned provider before the break, threading a pass to Alexis Mac Allister, who darted past Bento to poke home a third. Almada nearly added to the tally earlier, forcing a fingertip save from Bento with a venomous left-footed strike.
The second half saw Argentina maintain their grip, though they initially struggled to convert their chances. Alvarez came close to a fourth just four minutes after the restart, his audacious chip tipped over by a scrambling Bento. Fernandez then whipped a dangerous ball across the box on the hour mark, but Nicolas Tagliafico nodded over from close range.
Tagliafico redeemed himself late on, delivering a low cross that debutant Giuliano Simeone lashed off the crossbar and in for his first international goal, sealing Argentina�s 4-1 rout. Brazil�s Raphinha nearly pulled one back with a free-kick that grazed the bar, while Leandro Paredes tested Bento with a long-range drive in the dying stages, only to be denied by another sharp save.
The victory underscored Argentina�s supremacy in CONMEBOL qualifying, their attacking flair and defensive solidity proving too much for a faltering Brazil side. For the Sele��o, the defeat raises fresh concerns as they slip to fourth, their World Cup hopes now under scrutiny with tougher tests ahead.
For Argentina, the night was a celebration of qualification and a statement of intent�a reminder to rivals that the reigning world champions remain a force to be reckoned with as they gear up for 2026.
