Lionel Messi's Argentina qualify for FIFA World Cup 2022 despite draw with Brazil

Argentina captain Lionel Messi. (Source: Twitter)

Argentina drew 0-0 at home with Brazil in a tense and end-to-end game on Tuesday (November 16), but results elsewhere meant the point they earned was enough to secure them a place in next year`s World Cup in Qatar. Brazil, who guaranteed their spot last week, top the 10-team South American qualifying section with 35 points and Argentina have 29, six clear of third-placed Ecuador. The top four teams qualify automatically, and the fifth-placed side go into an inter-regional playoff.

Even the Argentine players did not know they had qualified until well after the match in San Juan. It was only after Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia recorded wins later in the evening that the Argentines were mathematically assured of their place in Qatar.

The good news came after an entertaining and hard fought game in western Argentina. Neither side was able to impose themselves in an even game with Fred’s second-half shot for Brazil that clipped the top of the bar the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock.

Leaders Brazil held in a tough scoreless stalemate to leave Argentina on the cusp of #WorldCup qualification @CONMEBOL | @Argentina | @CBF_Futebol pic.twitter.com/QTLeLlVGrU — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 17, 2021

The goalless draw in San Juan means Argentina are now 27 matches unbeaten, a run stretching back more than two years. The last time Brazil and Argentina played a match, the action lasted just five minutes. The game in Sao Paulo was cut short by officials who invaded the pitch and stopped the game, accusing the Argentine players of not following the proper COVID-19 quarantine rules. The match this time was hotly anticipated and while it lacked goals, it did not lack action.

Meanwhile, Bolivia scored twice in the first half then missed a penalty and had a man sent off in a 3-0 win over Uruguay on Tuesday, a result that revived their World Cup qualification chances and dealt a blow to their rivals’ hopes of making Qatar 2022. The defeat marked the first time Uruguay had lost four qualifiers in a row and further tightens the South American race for a place in next year’s finals.

Bolivia move to 15 points from 14 games, one point behind their opponents, who are level on 16 with Chile and Colombia. The top four qualify automatically for Qatar, and the fifth-placed side go into an inter-regional playoff.

Brazil are the only country out of the 10 South American sides to have guaranteed their place at the finals so far. Peru also boosted their chances of qualifying with a 2-1 win away to bottom side Venezuela.

Gianluca Lapadula put the visitors in front with a header after 18 minutes only for Darwin Machis to equalise seven minutes into the second half.

(with Reuters inputs)