That expanded field means Argentina is already well on its way to a World Cup return, but the table is tightening up. Brazil have recovered after a slow start, while Colombia and Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay are dangerous but have had hiccups and Bolivia had won three in a row to thicken the plot in the race for the final

Can a Lionel Messi-less Argentina get a result in Montevideo, one of the most difficult places to play in the world?

The Uruguay vs Argentina CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 Qualifiers will be played at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, March 21.