
Argentina continued their strong start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with a dominant 3-0 victory over Chile on November 15, 2024, maintaining their perfect record in the early stages of the South American qualification campaign. The win solidified Argentina’s position at the top of the CONMEBOL table, extending their unbeaten run under the leadership of coach Lionel Scaloni.
Match Summary:
The match, played at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, saw Argentina dominate Chile from the first whistle, with Lionel Messi leading the charge. Despite Chile‘s defensive resilience in the first half, Argentina’s attacking prowess eventually broke through, with goals from Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernández securing a comfortable win.
- First Half: Argentina’s early pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Julián Álvarez opened the scoring. A well-executed counter-attack saw Álvarez latch onto a pass from Messi, beating the Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo with a composed finish to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. Chile tried to respond with a few counter-attacks of their own, but Argentina’s defense, led by Cristian Romero, stood firm.
- Second Half: After the break, Lionel Messi doubled Argentina’s lead in the 57th minute. A brilliant solo run by Messi saw him glide past two Chilean defenders before finishing past Bravo with a clinical shot into the bottom corner. With Chile struggling to find a way back into the game, Enzo Fernández sealed the victory in the 75th minute, finishing off a brilliant team move with a powerful strike from outside the box to make it 3-0.
Key Moments:
- Julián Álvarez’s opener (18′) – A cool finish from the Manchester City forward to give Argentina the lead.
- Lionel Messi’s stunning solo goal (57′) – Messi showed his trademark skill and composure to double Argentina’s advantage.
- Enzo Fernández’s finish (75′) – The young midfielder added a third to wrap up a commanding win for Argentina.
What This Win Means for Argentina:
- Perfect Start to Qualifiers:
- With this win, Argentina maintained their 100% record in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, keeping them at the top of the CONMEBOL standings. After their 2022 World Cup triumph, Argentina’s qualification campaign has continued with impressive consistency, proving they are still one of the strongest teams in South America.
- Lionel Messi’s Continued Brilliance:
- Messi, at 37, continues to defy age. His goal and assist in this match further cement his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. His leadership on the pitch, both in terms of vision and execution, is vital for Argentina as they look to defend their World Cup title and qualify for the 2026 edition.
- Solid Team Performance:
- While Messi was once again the focal point of Argentina’s attack, Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández showed that Argentina‘s success is not reliant on one player. Álvarez’s goal, his off-the-ball movement, and Fernández’s clinical finish were all signs that the team is maturing into a balanced, well-rounded squad.
- Building Momentum for Future Matches:
- Argentina’s ability to keep their winning streak intact in the early rounds of the qualifiers is a statement to the rest of South America. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Argentina will need to keep up this level of performance to ensure they secure a top-four finish in the CONMEBOL group, which is notoriously competitive.
Chile’s Struggles Continue:
For Chile, the loss was another blow in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. La Roja, despite having a team full of experience and talent, struggled to break down Argentina’s defense. Despite some early pressure and good spells of possession, Chile could not find a way past Argentina’s resolute backline, led by Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez.
- Chile’s attacking play was lacking the cutting edge needed to threaten Argentina’s defense, and their inability to capitalize on a few good chances left them with nothing to show for their efforts.
- With the qualifiers entering a crucial phase, Chile will need to improve their performances in upcoming fixtures to stay in contention for a World Cup spot. Their next few games will be pivotal in determining whether they can turn their campaign around.
Looking Ahead for Argentina:
With this solid 3-0 win, Argentina’s path to 2026 World Cup qualification is looking more promising. However, there is still a long road ahead in the South American qualifiers, and they will face tougher tests in the coming months. Matches against Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay will provide more significant challenges as Argentina looks to maintain their momentum.
- Scaloni has built a well-balanced team, with strong defensive stability and a dynamic attack that can hurt opponents in multiple ways. With Messi still leading from the front and younger stars like Álvarez and Fernández stepping up, Argentina is shaping up to be a formidable force for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.