Argentina vs Colombia

Estadio Monumental forms the backdrop for a heavyweight 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Colombia. 

Argentina pulled off a narrow 1-0 win over Chile last weekend to seal automatic World Cup qualification and a top spot in the South American group with three games to spare. Back in familiar surroundings, Lionel Scaloni’s charges are seeking a fifth consecutive triumph, with three of their previous four coming ‘to nil,’ testifying to their unrivaled defensive prowess. Furthermore, the reigning World Cup holders boast a four-game winning run on home turf, netting 14 goals while conceding just one in return. However, La Albiceleste should know better than to underestimate upcoming rivals Colombia after a 2-1 loss in September’s reverse fixture in Barranquilla. That result maintained Argentina’s poor run across their last seven meetings with this opposition in regulation time (W1, D4, L2). 

On the other hand, this clash has all the makings of a ‘make or break’ affair for the visitors, who sit sixth in the South American standings heading into this matchday. Only three points above Venezuela, they still have a lot of work as they bid to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 2018. Manager Nestor Lorenzo must find a way to turn draws into victories to bolster Colombia’s quest to secure automatic qualification, with his side posting a joint-high six stalemates in the current cycle. Worryingly, Los Cafeteros take this trip on a five-game winless streak (D2, L3) following an uneventful scoreless draw against Peru last week. Another winless outing would see them equal their longest run without winning since 2008!