Argentina vs Chile: Preview

World champions Argentina continues their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a match against Chile at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires on Thursday (local time). Argentina leads the South American standings after six matches, while Chile sits in eighth place, two points behind the qualification spots.

This will be Argentina’s first home game since they retained their Copa America title in July, securing their 16th South American championship with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Colombia. Under Lionel Scaloni, who has a 71.4%-win rate, Argentina has triumphed in three consecutive major tournaments and looks set to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a strong start in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Team Form and H2H

Photo byJonathan PeterssononUnsplash

Argentina is currently at the top of the South American table, two points ahead of second-placed Uruguay, having won five of their first six qualifiers. They have secured victories against Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and most recently Brazil, with a 1-0 away win against Brazil in November last year.

As the world’s top-ranked team by FIFA, Argentina aims to extend their lead with a win over Chile, whom they defeated 1-0 in the Copa America group stage this summer. Chile is seeking to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014, but their CONMEBOL qualifying campaign has been rocky, with three losses, two draws, and just one win from their first six matches.

Chile's only victory was a 2-0 win over Peru. They have since earned just one point from their last three qualifiers, including a 1-0 loss to Ecuador in November last year. Chile once ranked as high as third in the world in 2016 but has fallen to 43rd in the FIFA rankings. Gareca’s side will face a tough challenge, as they have not beaten Argentina in their last 13 encounters ever since a narrow 1-0 victory in World Cup qualifying in October 2008.

Team News

Argentina will be missing legendary attacker Lionel Messi, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final against Colombia.

Defenders Nicolas Tagliafico and Leonardo Balerdi are also out due to injury, and Angel Di Maria and Franco Armani have retired from international football. With Tagliafico unavailable, Argentina lacks options at left-back, leaving Valentin Barco, who has two caps and is on loan at Sevilla from Brighton & Hove Albion, as the only natural left-back in Scaloni’s squad.

In Messi and Di Maria’s absence, Scaloni may choose to start one of Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, or Paulo Dybala alongside Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, who won the Copa America Golden Boot.

Chile’s squad is missing 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who has retired, and injured players Alexis Sanchez and Diego Valdes. Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel, and Francisco Sierralta have been omitted from Gareca’s squad. The only uncapped player is Swansea City’s London-born goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, who will compete with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Cortes.

Possible Starting Lineups

Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Barco; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Gonzalez, La. Martinez, Alvarez

Chile: Arias; Isla, Lichnovsky, Maripan, Mena; Nunez, Pulgar, Echeverria; Osorio, Vargas, Brereton Diaz

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Article originally written by Janieel Kariya