In this article…
Argentina v Brazil
📅
Kick Off: Wednesday 26th March at 00:00
🏆
Competition: World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Argentina have the opportunity to secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup when they face arch-rivals Brazil in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Lionel Scaloni’s side only require a point to achieve that but at a sold-out El Monumental, the head coach will want to show the rest of the world his team are ready to protect this crown.
Can Argentina, without Lionel Messi, secure back-to-back victories over Brazil? Let’s take a closer look.
⭐ Argentina v Brazil Best Bet
Argentina have won five of their six World Cup qualifiers at home – only losing to Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay when a late stadium move from El Monumental to La Bombonera through a slight curve ball.
Since that loss, Argentina won Copa America, got their revenge against Uruguay last week and as a result remain top of the qualifiers with 28 points from 13 matches. The same can’t be said for Brazil.
Although Dorival Junior’s side have climbed into 3rd place, they’ve struggled throughout much of this qualifying campaign. Their usual identity has been lost, while their away form has been rather concerning. Having only beaten struggling Peru and Chile in their six away matches, a trip to El Monumental looks daunting.
They’ll also travel without Alisson, Gabriel, Bruno Guimaraes and Gerson, who are either injured or suspended. Argentina may not have Lionel Messi, but Thiago Almada and Julian Alvarez showed their class in Montevideo, and Argentina’s odds-against price looks too good to ignore.
👕 Argentina v Brazil Predicted XI
🔍 Argentina v Brazil Players to Watch
🔵 Thiago Almada
It was a case of no Messi, no problem last week against Uruguay, where Lyon’s latest recruit Thiago Almada stole the show. The 23-year-old scored his first goal for Lyon before departing for international duty, where his stunning strike from distance secured the victory.
He averages 2.87 shots per 90 in CONMEBOL qualification for the World Cup, with this average rising to 2.96 in Ligue 1 as part of Lyon side sitting 5th. Priced at 2.10 to fire two efforts toward goal, this looks like decent value given he will most likely be up against the inexperienced Vanderson at right-back for Brazil.
Playing on the left-hand side where Angel Di Maria operated for so many years, Almada prefers to cut in and make himself dangerous around the box compared to his predecessor who’d exploit the flanks. Brazil may be busy marking Julian Alvarez, and this could provide Almada with the space he needs.
📂 Argentina v Brazil Cheat Sheet
Andy’s Bet Club is the best place for Football Betting Predictions. We offer a huge range of World Cup 2026 Bet Builder Tips covering a full range of punting plans.
We’ve also got our World Cup Qualifiers Acca this weekend and have got you covered for all the international action. You can find all of Andy’s Football Tips here.
💻 Argentina v Brazil Form and Tactics
After a couple of disappointing results towards the end of 2024, Argentina returned to action to beat La Celeste 1-0 in their own backyard. At home, it has been three wins on the bounce – without conceding – for Scaloni’s side who have waltzed to the top of the table during these qualifiers.
Argentina have kept five clean sheets from their five wins during their qualifying campaign, and although Brazil’s front line is rather dangerous on paper, it hasn’t quite come together – especially on their travels.
Brazil sit in 3rd but it doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, defeat in Buenos Aires and results going against them could see Dorival Junior’s side slip to 6th by the end of the week. Fortunately for them, there’s a sizable gap between 6th and 7th – and Brazil will be at the next World Cup.
But they will need to improve if they are to be competitive once they get there. Defeats on the road against Paraguay, Colombia and Uruguay are a cause for concern, especially having only scored five goals from their six away matches. With key players out, a first win in Argentina since 2009 looks highly unlikely.
🏁 Argentina v Brazil Ref Watch
- Referee: Andres Rojas
| Average Cards (Y / R) | 5.50 / 0.33 |
| Fouls Given | 21.33 |
| Penalties | 0.17 |
Football Predictions at Andy’s Bet Club
Our guide on How To Use A Cheat Sheet is the perfect way to get involved with our Bet Builder Stats tool, the best freely available data source for punting on the Premier League.
We recommend the Best Betting Sites For Accumulators, Top Bet Builder Sites, and the best Premier League Free Bets, and Weekly Free Bet Clubs, all to ensure you bet smarter when backing our tips with the Best UK Sports Betting Sites.
We’re keeping tabs on the best welcome offers at this time of year with this bet365 Sign Up Offer, a strong one to add to your roster. Expert guides, such as this one, on xG In Football, are also available to help you up your punting game.
* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
