Almada's stunner seals Argentina's 1-0 Win over Uruguay in World Cup Qualifier

Argentina secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their South American World Cup qualifier on Friday night, despite missing key players, including Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.

Thiago Almada was the hero of the night, scoring the only goal in the 68th minute with a brilliant curling strike from the edge of the box. The win puts Argentina just one point away from securing direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With 28 points from 13 matches, Argentina leads the qualifiers and could officially book their place with a draw against Brazil on Tuesday.

Despite Uruguay dominating the early exchanges at the Centenario Stadium, Argentina held firm and gained control in the second half. Almada’s goal proved decisive as Marcelo Bielsa’s team struggled to respond, managing just four shots on target.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s resilience, emphasizing their ability to adapt and perform despite key absences. Meanwhile, Uruguay will look to bounce back in their next fixture against Bolivia.

If Uruguay fails to win that match, Argentina will qualify for the World Cup regardless of their result against Brazil.