Thiago Almada struck a late equaliser to rescue Argentina in a dramatic 1-1 draw against Colombia during a tense 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning.
La Albiceleste were forced to play much of the encounter with ten men after midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off, a major setback which Colombia quickly capitalised on. Liverpool star Luis Díaz opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute, giving them a deserved lead.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Argentina dug deep. Almada’s well-taken goal nine minutes from time offered the hosts a lifeline, ensuring a share of the spoils and keeping their unbeaten momentum in qualifying alive. A frenetic final push from Argentina followed, but Colombia held firm through seven minutes of stoppage time to earn a valuable away point.
The first half was a largely tactical affair, but tensions boiled over in the second period, with Fernández’s red card adding fire to an increasingly physical contest. Still, it was Almada’s moment of quality that provided the night’s crucial highlight, salvaging Argentina’s pride and boosting morale in a difficult fixture.
Meanwhile, in Montevideo, Uruguay moved a step closer to sealing qualification for next year’s tournament in North America with a 2-0 victory over Venezuela. Goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian De Arrascaeta secured all three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who now sit third in the 10-team South American standings with 24 points from 16 matches, behind leaders Argentina and second-placed Ecuador.
Ecuador, who played Peru later on Tuesday in Lima, needed only a draw to confirm their place at the finals.
For Venezuela, defeat was a significant setback in their historic bid to reach their first-ever World Cup. A win in Montevideo would have significantly boosted their hopes, but Uruguay never looked troubled. Aguirre opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with a header from a corner, before De Arrascaeta added a second shortly after the break with a fine solo effort.
The loss leaves Venezuela seventh in the standings with 18 points. The top six teams qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed finisher heading to an intercontinental play-off.
Elsewhere, Bolivia dealt a crushing blow to Chile’s qualification hopes, winning 2-0 to eliminate the two-time Copa América champions from contention. The defeat means Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup, having also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments—a remarkable decline for a side that lifted the Copa in both 2015 and 2016.
Later on Tuesday, Brazil and Paraguay faced off in São Paulo, with both sides presented with opportunities to seal qualification. A draw would be sufficient for Paraguay, while a victory would see Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil book their ticket to the finals.
As the South American qualifiers near their conclusion, Argentina remain the only team mathematically assured of their place at the 2026 World Cup, though Uruguay and Ecuador are swiftly closing in.