Argentina one step away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup!

Argentina took another step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in North America, securing a valuable victory this Saturday, March 22, against Uruguay (1-0) at the legendary "Centenario" stadium, during the 13th round of the South American qualifiers.

Despite the absence of their captain Lionel Messi and several key players, Argentina managed to clinch a crucial win to solidify their top spot with 28 points, while Uruguay, ranked fourth, remains at 20 points.

The only goal of the match was scored by Thiago Almada in the 68th minute, following a precise pass from Julian Alvarez. Almada, with a powerful shot from outside the box, left no chance for Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

How many points does Argentina need to qualify?

With this victory, Argentina is now just one point away from mathematically securing qualification for the World Cup, marking their 19th participation in the global event.

The "Mâs Monumental" stadium in Buenos Aires will host a highly anticipated clash the following Wednesday between Argentina and their eternal rival Brazil, during the 14th round of the South American qualifiers.

It is important to note that the top 6 teams in the South American qualifiers qualify directly for the World Cup, while the team ranked seventh will have to compete in an intercontinental playoff with six other nations, two of which will earn their ticket to the competition.

Also read: Official: The first country qualified for the 2026 World Cup!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.