A dramatic 89th-minute goal from substitute Luiz Henrique secured a crucial 2-1 victory for Brazil against Chile in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match on Thursday. The win, coming at a crucial moment for Brazil coach Dorival Júnior, places Brazil fourth in the South American qualifying standings, keeping their hopes of automatic qualification alive.
Earlier, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, was held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela in a rain-delayed match at Monumental Stadium in Maturin. Argentina remains at the top of the 10-team table with 19 points after nine matches, but their lead could be reduced depending on Uruguay’s result against Peru on Friday. Colombia, currently in second place with 16 points, suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bolivia, while Uruguay holds third with 15 points.
Chile got off to a flying start in their match, with Eduardo Vargas netting a header just seconds after kickoff. Brazil struggled to break down the Chilean defense but equalized through Igor Jesus during added time in the first half. Brazil dominated possession in the second half, and Luiz Henrique’s late strike from the edge of the box delivered the decisive blow, leaving Chilean players devastated.
In Argentina’s game, Nicolás Otamendi scored in the 13th minute, capitalizing on a Messi cross and a defensive error. Venezuela responded with an equalizer from Salomón Rondón in the 65th minute. Messi, returning after an ankle injury, acknowledged that the rain-affected pitch hampered Argentina’s usual style of play.
Meanwhile, Bolivia earned a historic 1-0 victory over Colombia, with Miguel Terceros scoring the decisive goal, helping Bolivia move into fifth place. Ecuador and Paraguay played to a 0-0 stalemate, keeping both teams in mid-table contention.
