Nicolas Otamendi scored a decisive header, leading Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in a contentious World Cup qualifier that faced a half-hour delay on Tuesday.

The match commenced amidst a cacophony of cheers from local fans supporting the five-time world champions. Brazil, aiming to rebound from consecutive qualifying losses, suffered their third straight defeat, marking their inaugural home loss in a World Cup qualifier. As reported by Reuters, they now stand sixth in the standings, trailing leaders Argentina by eight points, securing the final spot guaranteeing a berth at the 2026 finals.

Despite Brazil's strong performance and a close call just before halftime, where Gabriel Martinelli's strike was cleared off the goal line by defender Christian Romero, Argentina emerged victorious.

Despite missing key players like Vinicius Jr and Neymar due to injuries and losing their captain Marquinhos to a leg issue midway through the game, Brazil maintained pressure in the second half.