Argentina may have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but that wouldn’t stop them from defeating Chile 1-0. It was a chance for Lionel Scaloni to evaluate some deeper talents on his roster as a young offense, featuring Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, and Giuliano Simeone, kicked off the match. Although they struggled to build teamwork, one effective connection between Almada and Alvarez managed to give Argentina the lead.

🇦🇷⚽ ¡GOOOOOOL DE ARGENTINA!🔥
ARGENTINA 1 - 0 CHILE
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Moments like these, where Argentina can claim victory without Lionel Messi on the pitch, are invaluable as they prepare for a future that may not always include him in every match. When Messi joined for Paz in the second half, while he may not have performed at peak form, his presence was still enough to keep Chile cautious as Argentina sealed the win.

Additionally, despite the rotation in the squad, the team’s defense effectively thwarted Chile’s attempts at scoring, which was crucial for securing the result away from home. Chile’s struggles have left them at the bottom of the CONMEBOL standings but they remain only five points away from a playoff spot, making the road ahead challenging after this defeat.

With this victory, Argentina has accumulated 34 points in 15 qualifiers and is on a three-game winning streak. Scaloni has more opportunities to observe his younger players closely, while this game assures Argentina will maintain the lead in World Cup qualifying. The team will face a much stronger opponent next, as they return to the Estadio Mas Monumental to take on Colombia on Tuesday.