Chile vs Argentina

On Thursday night, CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying will see a clash of extremes as reigning world champions Argentina take on struggling Chile in Santiago.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina secured their World Cup spot back in March, while Chile, under Ricardo Gareca, face the grim prospect of missing their third consecutive World Cup. The Chilean side, once a global powerhouse with consecutive Copa America titles and World Cup appearances a decade ago, has been a pale imitation in this campaign.

Despite a slight upturn after a shocking home loss to Bolivia last year, with only one defeat in their last four qualifiers, Chile’s hopes of reaching the finals hang by a thread.

With just two victories in 14 matches, Chile languish at the bottom of the standings, five points behind Venezuela’s playoff spot. While not impossible, their path to qualification is daunting, with upcoming matches against heavyweights Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and a challenging trip to Bolivia’s high-altitude El Alto.

Chile’s biggest issue has been their toothless attack, failing to score in nine of their 14 games and still not reaching double digits in goals. Their recent record against Argentina is equally discouraging, with no wins in eight encounters since their 2016 Copa America final triumph, managing only four goals in those matches.

Argentina, meanwhile, might use this game to experiment, having already clinched qualification with a commanding 4-1 win over Brazil in March. Scaloni’s side dominates South American qualifying, leading the table by eight points after three straight victories.

Their away form is particularly impressive, earning 13 of a possible 21 points—a record that could rank among the best in the current format if they secure another victory here.

Argentina’s 1-0 win in Uruguay earlier this year highlighted their superiority, and despite tough upcoming fixtures, including a home match against Colombia and a trip to Ecuador, they remain the continent’s standout team, poised to further prove their dominance in Santiago.