Argentina, Brazil lose World Cup 2026 qualifiers without Messi and Neymar

The South American football giants missed their biggest stars as they were handed shock losses away from home.

Two South American football powerhouses lost their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches in the absence of their biggest stars, as Lionel Messi missed Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia and Neymar was absent as Brazil were upset by Paraguay.

James Rodriguez scored from the penalty spot and had an assist to help Colombia edge world champions Argentina 2-1 in Barranquilla and Diego Gomez netted the winner for Paraguay in a 1-0 victory over Brazil at Asuncion on Tuesday.

Both Argentina and Brazil struggled without their injured stars, with the replacements for Messi and Neymar unable to deliver away wins for their teams.

Big results in South America… 🍿#FIFAWorldCup | #WeAre26

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 11, 2024

Colombia 2-1 Argentina

It was sweet revenge for Colombia, who were beaten 1-0 by Argentina in a bitterly disappointing Copa America final loss as the World Cup 2022 winners also lifted the continental trophy in Miami in July. The Colombians seemed to have that match on their minds as they found a way to beat Argentina for the first time since 2019.

Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring for Colombia with a close-range header in the 25th minute but Argentina equalised in the 48th after Nico Gonzalez intercepted a Rodriguez pass. Rodriguez made amends on the hour with his penalty, awarded after a video review, securing the win at the Metropolitano Stadium.

“It is a great win against an Argentina team that has won it all,” Rodriguez said. “The weather was tough, it was so hot, but we had an excellent match. It is a fair win.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the heat had an impact on the match.

“The heat is the same for both, but it is evident that there were not good conditions for us to see a spectacle,” the coach said.

Colombia’s James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal against Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American qualifier at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia [Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP]

Paraguay 1-0 Brazil

Gomez scored for Paraguay from the edge of the box, with the ball deflecting in off goalkeeper Alisson’s right post. Brazil had few opportunities to equalise and gave coach Dorival Junior his first defeat since taking over in January.

Brazil’s coach, usually reserved in front of the media, told a news conference on Monday that his team will be in the next World Cup final. The defeat at Paraguay suggested he is still miles away from delivering on that promise.

His idea of starting against a defensively sound Paraguay team with a trio of Real Madrid strikers – Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo – clearly failed. Midfielder Lucas Moura said “the game was over” as soon as the hosts opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

“They already came to defend, even more so after they scored,” substitute Moura said.

Defender Marquinhos said Brazil’s squad doesn’t have “the usual confidence” in recent times.

“We are trying to find the best way to play,” he said. “There are many pieces being changed.”

Brazil’s forward Vinicius Jr (L) and Paraguay’s defender Junior Alonso fight for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026  South American qualifier at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay [Daniel Duarte/AFP]

CONMEBOL qualifiers evenly poised

In the other CONMEBOL qualifiers on Tuesday, Bolivia upset Chile 2-1 at Santiago, Ecuador beat Peru 1-0, and Venezuela drew 0-0 with Uruguay.

Argentina lead the round-robin competition with 18 points after eight matches, two points clear of Colombia. Uruguay are in third position with 15 points, followed by Ecuador with 14. Brazil have been pushed to fifth with 10 points.

Despite the defeat, Argentina remain comfortably on course for a place at the World Cup 2026, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the top six finishers in South American qualifying will win a berth to the finals.

The seventh placed team in qualifying goes into an inter-confederation playoff, with the bottom three teams eliminated.