Brazil Suffers Another Setback in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers; Argentina Falls to Colombia
Brazil endured their fourth defeat in five 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, losing 1-0 to Paraguay, while Argentina also stumbled with a 2-1 loss to Colombia. The latest round of qualifiers has left fans of both football giants concerned as the road to the World Cup continues.
Paraguay secured their victory over Brazil in Asuncion with Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez scoring the match’s only goal in the 20th minute. Brazil, despite fielding a strong lineup that included Liverpool’s Alisson, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, struggled to create clear opportunities, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half. In attack, Real Madrid trio Rodrygo, Endrick, and Vinicius Jr. were unable to break through Paraguay’s defense.
After the match, Vinicius Jr. spoke to Brazilian TV channel Globo, apologizing to fans and acknowledging the team’s current struggles. The 24-year-old winger, who has been a star for Real Madrid with over 20 goals in each of the last three seasons, has found it difficult to replicate his form on the international stage, scoring just five goals in 35 appearances for Brazil.
“I know my potential, and what I can bring to the national team,” Vinicius said. “It’s been a complicated process because when you’re not confident, you don’t score.”
Brazil, five-time World Cup champions, now sit fifth in the South American qualifying table, with only three wins from eight games. Manager Dorival Jr., appointed in January, is still working to find the best system for his team after a disappointing Copa America run, which ended in a quarter-final exit.
“The coach is still figuring out the best way for us to play, and that’s being reflected in the results,” said Brazilian defender Marquinhos. “We’re in a time of transition, and confidence is lacking, but we’re determined to work hard and get results.”
Meanwhile, Argentina, playing without Lionel Messi, fell to Colombia in a dramatic 2-1 encounter. Former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez led Colombia to victory, scoring the decisive penalty in the 60th minute. Rodriguez also assisted Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera, who opened the scoring with a header in the 25th minute.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, equalized three minutes into the second half through Nicolas Gonzalez. However, a foul by Nicolas Otamendi on Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz led to a penalty, confirmed after a VAR review. Rodriguez confidently converted, sending Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez the wrong way.
“I don’t think I’ve ever scored against Argentina—there’s a first time for everything,” said Rodriguez after the match. “This victory is even sweeter, considering we faced a team that’s won it all.”
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Uruguay played out a goalless draw against Venezuela, with Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte starting for Uruguay. Despite the result, Uruguay remains in contention for qualification.
Argentina remains at the top of the South American qualifying table, leading by two points over second-placed Colombia. The top six teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with the seventh-placed side entering an intercontinental playoff.
In Asia’s World Cup qualifiers, Australia continued their struggle, drawing 0-0 with Indonesia after a 1-0 loss at home to Bahrain in their previous match. Japan, on the other hand, showcased their strength with a 5-0 win over Bahrain, with Premier League players Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), and Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) all starting for the Japanese side.
South Korea also secured their first victory in the 2026 qualifiers, defeating Oman 3-1, with goals from Tottenham captain Son Heung-min and Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan.
As the qualifying campaign progresses, both South American and Asian teams will be looking to solidify their positions and ensure their spots in the upcoming World Cup.
