Argentina clinched a 1-0 victory against Brazil in a heated 2026 World Cup qualifying match at the Maracana Stadium, marked by pre-game crowd disturbances that caused a delay in kick-off.
Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi’s 63rd-minute header secured the win for the world champions, bouncing back from their previous loss to Uruguay.
This triumph propels Argentina to the top of the South American qualifying standings, amassing 15 points from six games, while Brazil’s third defeat in the qualifiers leaves the five-time champions in sixth place with seven points from six games.
Tensions erupted in the stadium before kick-off, leading to clashes between Argentine fans and Brazilian police, prompting intervention from several Argentine players, including goalkeeper Emi Martinez, trying to defuse the situation.
Lionel Messi and his teammates briefly retreated to the dressing room, hinting at their reluctance to play amidst the unrest.
The match eventually commenced about 30 minutes behind schedule, but the intensity from the stands spilled onto the field, exemplified by an early clash between Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus and Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul, resulting in Jesus receiving a yellow card just five minutes into the game.
