Argentina triumphed against Uruguay without Messi in World Cup qualifier

In a significant matchup in March 2025, Argentina faced Uruguay in a crucial South American World Cup qualifying match held in Uruguay. Despite missing key players like Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, Argentina displayed resilience and determination, overcoming Uruguay with a narrow 1-0 victory. Thiago Almada scored the game’s only goal in the 68th minute following a flurry of attacking opportunities from Argentina. This win brought Argentina to 28 points in the standings, leaving them just one point short of officially qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their ability to seize control of the game in the second half after a first half marked by opportunities that went begging. With only a few rounds remaining in the qualification process, the defending champions have set themselves up for a solid chance to secure their spot in the World Cup with a simple draw in their next home match against Brazil. On the other hand, Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the match, only managing four shots on goal compared to Argentina's dominant play and several missed opportunities. The win keeps Argentina firmly at the top of the group, while Uruguay is now facing pressure in their upcoming matches to ensure they stay within the qualifying positions. In other matches that day, Ecuador secured a 2-1 victory against Venezuela, moving into second place in the qualifications. The competition tightens as Brazil and Colombia also vie for the crucial top spots. With only five rounds remaining, every match has become increasingly critical for teams still in the hunt for qualification. The excitement builds as fans await Argentina’s next match as they aim to solidify their chance of defending their title and returning to the World Cup stage in 2026.