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Argentina is back in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with Peru as visitors in Buenos Aires. Lionel Scaloni’s men topped the CONMEBOL section but went down 2-1 to Paraguay in a surprise defeat last week, while the Peruvians suffered a goalless draw against rock bottom Chile. The Albiceleste have a three-point lead at the top, while Jorge Fossati’s visitors are five points behind even a play-off spot.
Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina the lead against the Paraguayans, but was canceled out 2-1 by an Albirroja fightback, making qualifying three defeats for Scaloni and his players. The last match of 2024 is a win for the Argentinians, who must be sure of the points, as they will play against both Uruguay and Brazil in March next year. With 37 wins and only seven defeats against Peru, the Albiceleste are strong favorites here.
Peru famously recorded a 1-0 win over Uruguay last month, but a 4-0 defeat to Brazil means they can’t even get into the play-offs. The Blanquirroja are expecting a response from Argentina after last week and their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup makes the memories of 2018 feel increasingly distant. The Peruvians reached the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1978, but need a stunning win here if they want to have a chance of even getting into the 2026 shake-up.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday November 19 | Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Location: Estadio Alberto J. Armando – Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Watch: Telemundo | Current: Fubo (Try for free)
- Chances: Argentina -800; Sign +600; Peru +2000
CONMEBOL WCQ
Argentina have recorded seven wins, one draw and three defeats from 11 games so far and are top of the table with 22 points, with Uruguay three points behind and Brazil on five. With twenty goals from eleven games, six of them from Messi himself, the world champions remain on course to qualify and pursue a title defense. Peru sits ninth in the table after a 0–0 draw with Chile and has just one win to its name with four draws and six defeats from eleven, leaving it five points behind Venezuela, who currently hold the play-off spot busy. With only three goals from eleven games, it is difficult for them to beat the Argentinians on the road.
Team news
Argentina: Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez are absent, while Leonardo Balerdi is expected to come in alongside Nicolas Otamendi. Alejandro Garnacho is expected to fill in for Messi in his 191st appearance, with Julian Alvarez also likely to start.
Possible Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Balerdi, Otamendi, Tagliafico; DePaul, Fernandez; Messi, Mac Allister, Alvarez; Martinez.
Peru: Paolo Guerrero could make his 123rd appearance for his country, while Gianluca Lapadula and Luis Advincula are expected to start. Sergio Pena should also be fit enough to play again despite a defeat to Chile.
Possible Peru XI: Caceda; Corzo, Araujo, Callens; Polo, Sonne, Cartagena, Pena, Advincula; Guerrero, Valera.
Prediction
Peru will try to make this one as difficult as possible, but there is no real hope they can do the necessary damage to emerge victorious and revive their World Cup hopes. Choose: Argentina 2, Peru 0.