Champions Argentina, Brazil falter in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Two South American powerhouses lost in World Cup qualifying in the absence of their biggest stars, with Lionel Messi missing Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia and Neymar still on the sidelines for Brazil’s upset defeat in Paraguay.

James Rodríguez scored from the penalty spot and had an assist to help Colombia edge out the defending champions in Barranquilla, while Diego Gómez netted the winner for Paraguay in a 1-0 victory in Asunción.
 
Both Argentina and Brazil struggled without their injured stars, with the replacements for Messi and Neymar unable to deliver away wins for their teams.
Yerson Mosquera opened scoring for Colombia in their game with a close-range header in the 25th minute, but Argentina equalised in the 48th after Nico González intercepted a Rodríguez pass. Rodríguez made amends on the hour with his penalty, awarded after a video review, securing the win at the Metropolitano Stadium.
  
“It is a great win against an Argentina team that has won it all,” Rodríguez said. “The weather was tough, it was so hot, but we had an excellent match. It is a fair win.”
 
Gómez scored for Paraguay from the edge of the box, with the ball deflecting in off goalkeeper Alisson’s right post.
Brazil had few opportunities to equalise and gave Coach Dorival Júnior his first defeat since taking over in January.
 
Brazil’s coach, usually reserved in front of the media, said on Monday that his team will be in the next World Cup final, but the defeat suggested his team is some way from delivering on that promise.
 
His idea of starting against a defensively sound Paraguay team with a trio of Real Madrid strikers – Vinicius Júnior, Endrick, and Rodrygo – failed. Midfielder Lucas Moura said: “The game was over” as soon as the hosts