Argentina vs Colombia, game review, goals, penalties

In one of the headline clashes of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina and Colombia played to a hard-fought 1–1 draw. The emotionally charged match, held as part of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification, showcased fierce competition between two regional football powers.

First Half: Visitors Strike First

The Colombia national football team started strongly and opened the scoring in the 24th minute through Luis Díaz, who cut in from the left wing, beat multiple defenders, and fired a shot into the far corner of the net past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The Argentina national team, coached by Lionel Scaloni, responded with growing pressure. Lionel Messi was especially active, taking shots from distance and creating opportunities, but his teammates failed to capitalize.

Second Half: Red Card and Late Equalizer

In the second half, Argentina stepped up their attacking efforts. However, midfielder Enzo Fernández received a straight red card in the 70th minute for a high-footed foul, leaving Argentina with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Argentina continued to press, led by the ever-influential Messi. Their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when Thiago Almada found the equalizer with a precise shot into the bottom corner, levelling the score at 1–1.

Final Result: A Valuable Draw

Already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina used the match to test its lineup and maintain rhythm. For Colombia, the draw was a crucial point in the battle for direct qualification. With decisive fixtures ahead, earning a result against the reigning world champions boosts their confidence on the road to the World Cup in North America.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Uzbekistan national football team played its final match of the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.