Brazil suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers, adding further pressure on manager Dorival Júnior. His side was completely outplayed and was fortunate not to lose by an even greater margin.
Following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Colombia in their previous match, Brazil entered the highly anticipated clash with hopes of maintaining momentum. However, Argentina wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Julián Alvarez opening the scoring just four minutes after kick-off. Alvarez latched onto a through pass from Thiago Almada, skillfully evaded two defenders, and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Bento.
Argentina continued their relentless attack, and Enzo Fernández doubled their lead in the 12th minute with a clinical strike from inside the box. Brazil found a brief glimmer of hope in the 26th minute when Cristian Romero’s mistake gifted Matheus Cunha a goal, briefly reducing the deficit.
Despite the setback, Argentina remained in control and restored their two-goal cushion in the 37th minute. Alexis Mac Allister capitalized on a cross from Fernández, finishing with precision to make it 3-1 before halftime. The visitors had numerous opportunities to extend their advantage further but lacked the finishing touch until substitute Giuliano Simeone sealed the emphatic victory in the 71st minute. The defeat marked Brazil’s heaviest loss in a World Cup qualifier.
The result also meant Argentina became the first South American team to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Their spot was already guaranteed before kick-off, thanks to a goalless draw between Uruguay and Bolivia earlier in the day.
Argentina’s dominance was even more remarkable considering the absence of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez due to injuries. Despite missing key players, they outclassed their rivals, extending their unbeaten run against Brazil to six years.
Brazil captain Marquinhos expressed disappointment and apologized to the fans, urging the team to improve. He acknowledged the poor performance, describing it as “embarrassing” and emphasizing the need to learn from the experience. He also defended the manager, insisting that the blame should be shared among the players and coaching staff.
Dorival Júnior has struggled to win over Brazil’s passionate supporters, having secured just seven wins in 16 matches since taking charge in early 2024. The team currently sits fourth in the South American standings with 21 points from 14 games, trailing Argentina, who lead with 31 points. Meanwhile, Venezuela, in seventh place, occupy the international playoff position after their 1-0 victory over Peru.
Brazil now faces a critical period as they look to regroup and reignite their qualification campaign. With mounting pressure on both the coach and players, a strong response will be necessary to restore confidence and meet expectations.
