In La Paz, on the second day of the South American qualifiers, Argentina faced Bolivia and left with a decisive 3-0 victory. The Albiceleste managed this win without Lionel Messi, climbing in altitude and maintaining control from start to finish. It marked a rare achievement in the South American qualifiers: back-to-back wins for the first time since the format began, underscoring the team’s resilience under difficult conditions.
The match unfolded without the spark of Messi, yet the performance showed a team ready to adapt. Traveling players arrived rested after a demanding stretch of 12 games in 48 days, and the squad wore their championship energy publicly. They pressed with intensity from the opening minutes, adjusting their rhythm to cope with the thin air and high elevation, while the technical quality on display quickly became evident.
At around the half-hour mark, Enzo Fernández found space at the center of the box and finished a well-coordinated team move with precision. Moments later, a red card for Roberto Fernández left Bolivia with a tougher path to recovery, and Argentina closed the first half with a landmark goal from Nicolás Tagliafico, his first for the national team.
The second half carried a cautious hope that the altitude might erode the visitors’ pace. Yet Scaloni’s side continued to press and create chances, extending the advantage through Nicolás González. The margin felt large enough for confidence to grow, and the game’s tempo stayed firmly on Argentina’s terms. The only real concern was whether the altitude might eventually take a toll, but the team managed to maintain control and push forward with clear intent until the final whistle.
Argentina’s performance reinforced a familiar narrative: the side can conquer challenging environments through disciplined defense, accurate passing, and relentless attacking pressure. This victory, echoing the robust showing against Ecuador, demonstrated that the squad could translate technical skill into results even when the conditions demand extra effort.
South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America: dates, matches, results and format
Next up, GOAL will continue to cover the actions on the field.
BOLIVIA – ARGENTINA, MINUTE BY MINUTE
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The match between La Verde and Albiceleste aired on TyC Sports in Argentina. In Chile it was available via Mega, and in Colombia through Caracol and RCN.
Streaming options included TyC Sports Games in Argentina and Snail Play in Colombia.
COURSE
BOLIVIA
Guillermo Viscarra; Jairo Quinteros, Adrián Jusino, José Sagredo; Fernández; Diego Bejarano, Luciano Ursino, Gabriel Villamil, Roberto Fernández; Víctor Abrego, Jaime Arrascaita, Marcelo Moreno Martins. DT: Gustavo Costas.
ARGENTINA
Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González. DT: Lionel Scaloni.
[Goal]