WCQ: Argentina Defeat Bitter Rivals Brazil At Maracana

In a heated clash marked by pre-match crowd trouble, Argentina emerged victorious over Brazil with a 1-0 scoreline during the 2026 World Cup qualifying match held on Tuesday.

The match, which took place at Rio’s renowned Maracana Stadium, faced a delayed kick-off due to the aforementioned crowd issue.

Nicolas Otamendi, an experienced defender, scored the winning goal with a header in the 63rd minute, allowing Argentina to recover from their previous defeat to Uruguay and secure a win against their long-standing South American rivals.

This victory propels Argentina to the top of the South American qualifying standings, accumulating 15 points from six games.

On the other hand, Brazil’s loss in this qualifying match marks their third defeat, leaving them in sixth place with seven points from six games.

Prior to the start of the match, tensions escalated among the spectators at the Maracana.

Brazilian police were observed using batons to disperse a group of Argentine fans situated at one end of the stadium.

This incident added to the overall intensity surrounding the encounter.