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Argentina and Brazil experience unexpected losses
In the last round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, Ecuador and Argentina went head-to-head, while Bolivia took on Brazil in a separate match. In the earlier round, both Argentina and Brazil secured victories with a score of 3-0 (I published an article on those two matches, and that is: Argentina and Brazil secured comfortable victories in their World Cup qualifying matches.), but in the final round, both teams faced defeats, losing 0-1. This article will cover the significant moments from both games.
Ecuador Vs Argentina
Argentina lost 0-1 to Ecuador
First, let’s examine the match between Ecuador and Argentina. Prior to this game, both Ecuador and Argentina had already booked their spots for the World Cup. In this encounter, Argentina unexpectedly fell to Ecuador, losing 0-1, although this defeat did not impact Argentina’s standing in the qualifying points table, as they remained in first place. Lionel Messi was not on the field for this match as he was given a rest.
First-half highlights:
Argentina’s performance in the first half was not up to par. Instead, Ecuador showed greater control during the first period of the match. Ecuador also had multiple scoring opportunities in the first half, which included a header from Plata that missed the target and a shot from Kendry Páez that sailed over the goalpost. Argentina’s dependable defender Nicolas Otamendi received a red card in the 31st minute for a last-man tackle on Plata. This allowed Ecuador to gain a numerical advantage, which further increased their upper hand in the match. In the third minute of stoppage time during the first half, Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliafico fouled Ecuador’s Ángelo Preciado in the penalty area, leading to a penalty for Ecuador after a VAR review. Enner Valencia successfully converted the penalty, putting Ecuador ahead 1-0. The halftime score reflected Ecuador 1 – Argentina 0.
Second-half highlights:
During the second half, Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo earned a second yellow card for a foul on Nico Gonzalez in the 50th minute, resulting in Ecuador being reduced to ten players, similar to Argentina. Ecuador created several scoring chances in the second half. On one occasion, Ecuador’s Kevin Rodriguez found himself in a one-on-one with Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, but the Argentine keeper made a vital stop. Despite several chances in the second half, Ecuador was unable to find the back of the net again. Ultimately, Ecuador achieved a surprising 1-0 victory over Argentina. The match statistics indicate that Ecuador took 11 shots, with four on target, while Argentina managed 8 shots but failed to hit the target even once, which is rather unexpected.
Bolivia Vs Brazil
Brazil lost 0-1 to Bolivia
Let’s now discuss the game between Bolivia and Brazil, where Bolivia shocked everyone by defeating Brazil 1-0. Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the head coach of the Brazil national team in May 2025, and this marked the first loss for the Brazilian squad under his management. The match took place at the Estadio Municipal El Alto in Bolivia, situated at an altitude of around 13,412 feet, which can pose difficulties for any visiting team. Brazil likely faced challenges due to the high altitude during this encounter. Brazil had already secured their spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bolivia’s win in this match, coupled with Colombia’s victory over Venezuela, pushed Bolivia to seventh place in the CONMEBOL points table for World Cup qualifying and created an opportunity for Bolivia to enter the World Cup. Should Bolivia triumph in the intercontinental play-off, they will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking their first qualification since 1994.
First-half highlights:
In the first half, Bolivia controlled the game and generated multiple scoring opportunities. Brazil’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, made several impressive saves. Brazil lacked aggression during the first 45 minutes of play. Just before halftime, Bruno Guimarães of Brazil committed a foul on Bolivia’s Roberto Fernandez inside the penalty area, leading the referee to award a penalty to Bolivia with VAR assistance. Miguel Terceros converted the penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time, putting the score at Bolivia 1 – Brazil 0 by the end of the first half.
Second-half highlights:
No goals were scored in the second half. Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, made five substitutions during this period. After Estêvão, João Pedro, and Raphinha were substituted in the second half, Brazil intensified their offensive efforts but failed to break through Bolivia’s organized defense. Bolivia continued to assert their dominance until the final whistle, securing a 1 – 0 victory over Brazil. The match statistics were quite remarkable as well, with Bolivia registering 23 shots and landing 10 on target, whereas Brazil managed only 10 shots, with just three hitting the target.
I have uploaded a video on YouTube in Bengali related to the topic discussed in this blog, and you can find the link to that video here: