Argentina beat rivals Brazil in ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifying clash

Nicolas Otamendi's second-half header settles a match delayed for 30 minutes by crowd trouble

Nicolas Otamendi begins to celebrate after scoring for Argentina against Brazil. Reuters

Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 on Tuesday in an ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifying clash marred by pre-match crowd trouble that forced kick off to be delayed.

A 63rd-minute header from veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi secured victory for Argentina as the world champions bounced back from last week's defeat to Uruguay to beat their bitter South American rivals.

The win at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium leaves Argentina on top of the South American qualifying standings with 15 points from six games.

Brazil's third defeat of qualifying, meanwhile, leaves the five-time world champions in sixth place with seven points from six games.

Tempers had flared in the stands at the Maracana moments before kick off, with Brazilian police seen using batons to drive back a block of Argentine fans at one end of the ground.

Several Argentina players went towards the disturbances in an apparent attempt to plead for calm, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez attempting to jump into the seating area at one stage to confront a baton-wielding Brazilian police officer.

Argentina's players led by Lionel Messi then returned to their dressing room as the clashes continued, with Messi appearing to say: "We're not playing, we're leaving."

The 2022 World Cup winners re-emerged onto the field shortly before 10pm local time and the match kicked off shortly afterwards, roughly 30 minutes later than the scheduled start time.

The febrile pre-match atmosphere spilled onto the field when play finally got under way, with Brazil's Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus shown a yellow card just five minutes in after clashing with Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul.

The tense nature of the contest continued throughout a poor first half, with neither side creating much in the way of goalscoring opportunities in a game littered with niggly fouls.

Brazil winger Raphinha was booked in the 14th minute for flinging an arm into the face of De Paul, and was lucky not to receive a second yellow five minutes later after catching Alexis Mac Allister with a wild studs-up challenge.

Crowd trouble inside Maracana Stadium

Lionel Messi watches on from the pitch as the match is delayed due to incidents in the stands. Getty Images

Members of the Brazilian police stand by after a clash between fans prior to a 2026 World Cup qualifiers match between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 21, 2023. EPA

Argentina fans clash with Brazilian police before the start of the match at Maracana Stadium. AFP

Fans clash in the stands with security staff causing a delay to the start of the match. Reuters

Argentina fans celebrate after the match as Brazilian police stand by from the pitch. Reuters

People take cover under stairs due to a clash between fans inside the Maracana stadium. EPA

Police officers armed with batons clash with fans as the match is delayed due to the incidents. Getty Images

Argentina players attempt to diffuse the situation as police officers clash with fans in the stands. Getty Images

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates react as police officers clash with fans. Getty Images

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez leaves the pitch into the dressing room as the match was delayed due to incidents in the stands. Getty Images

Argentina fans clash with Brazilian police before the start of the match. AFP

A stand seat is thrown at police officers as tempers boil over inside Maracana Stadium. Getty Images

Emiliano Martinez reaches into the crowd in an attempt to calm the situation. Reuters

A security guard turns to look at Lionel Messi as the clashes continue in the stands. Reuters

Brazilian police attempt to restrain an Argentina fan as fights break out in the stands. AFP

Fans of Argentina clash with Brazilian police before the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifier. AFP

Lionel Messi in discussions with officials as the match is delayed because of crowd trouble. Reuters

Brazil coach Fernando Diniz talks with Argentina's physiotherapist Marcelo D'Andrea after clashes erupted in the stands. AFP

Lionel Messi leaves the pitch as the match was delayed due to incidents in the stands. Getty Images

Lionel Messi walks through the tunnel to return to the dressing room after crowd trouble delays the start of the match. Getty Images

Brazil meanwhile failed to register a single shot – either on or off target – until a 38th-minute free-kick from Raphinha that deflected wide for a corner.

The only shot on goal from either side in the entire first half came on 44 minutes, when Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli lashed a muffed clearance from Argentina goalkeeper Martinez back towards goal.

Martinelli's shot was heading for the net but Argentina breathed a sigh of relief after defender Cristian Romero blocked the effort on the line.

Brazil started the second half more positively, with Raphinha having a shot blocked at the near post by Martinez after 54 minutes.

Martinez then rescued Argentina again, parrying Martinelli's goal-bound shot after a good run by Gabriel.

But Brazil were rocked after Argentina took the lead on 63 minutes with their first attempt on target.

Giovani Lo Celso swung in an inviting corner from the left and the 35-year-old Otamendi soared above Brazil midfielder Andre to head home for 1-0.

A miserable night for Brazil got worse in the 82nd minute when substitute Joelinton, who had only been on the field for 12 minutes, was sent off for an off-the-ball clash with De Paul.