Argentina Clinches Spot in 2026 World Cup After Bolivia’s Draw

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a pivotal draw between Bolivia and Uruguay on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The defending champions become the first South American team to qualify for the tournament.

The outcome of the Bolivia-Uruguay match guaranteed Argentina, which currently leads the South American qualifying standings with 28 points, one of the six direct berths available for CONMEBOL teams in the expanded 48-team tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Argentina’s World Cup journey solidified when Bolivia and Uruguay finished their match in a 0-0 stalemate, effectively ending Bolivia’s chances of displacing Argentina from the qualifying spots. As a result, Argentina has also enjoyed significant victories away from home, including wins against Brazil and Uruguay during the qualifiers.

“The players have shown remarkable resilience throughout the qualifying matches,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after the news of their qualification broke. “We knew that qualifying was never going to be easy, but the team has performed admirably.”

Following Argentina’s triumph in the 2022 World Cup, this will be their chance to defend their title. However, the fitness and future participation of star player Lionel Messi remain uncertain. The 37-year-old has not played in several recent matches due to an injury to his adductor muscle.

“I have not ruled out the possibility of playing in my sixth World Cup,” Messi said in previous statements. “However, I need to focus on my recovery and the final stages of my career.”

This marks a celebrated return to the World Cup stage for Argentina, which last fielded a fully fit Messi during their victorious campaign in Qatar 2022. Argentina joins New Zealand as one of the initial teams to qualify for the upcoming tournament.

As teams prepare for the 2026 World Cup, expectations for high-profile players like Messi and other national teams, including previous contenders such as Brazil and European powerhouses, loom large. The full lineup of participating teams is still developing as qualifiers conclude across the globe over the next several months.