Reigning World Cup champs Argentina beat Peru 1-0 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, as they’re closing in on qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
MORE — South America qualifying fixtures, table, hub
Lionel Messi set up Lautaro Martinez for the only goal of the game, as La Bombonera went wild. Messi tied Landon Donovan’s international assist record, with what was his 58th assist for Argentina.
It wasn’t pretty but Argentina bounced back from their shock defeat in Paraguay last week and remain top of the World Cup qualifying table in South America. They sit on 25 points, five points clear of second-place Uruguay.
Crucially they are 12 points ahead of seventh-placed Bolivia, meaning a win in their next qualifier against Uruguay in March and other results going their way could confirm their qualification for the 2026 World Cup with five games to spare. Peru remain bottom of the qualifying table and have picked up just one win from their 12 games so far.
Messi, Martinez connection building nicely
M&M is coming to the USA to do one thing in 2026: win it all again. Messi set up Martinez for the winner against Peru and in truth Argentina have breezed through qualifying and not even defeats to Paraguay, Colombia and Uruguay along the way ever looked like derailing them. Messi has got plenty of help from Martinez during this World Cup qualifying cycle, with Inter Milan’s captain providing tenacity and clever running to free up space for Messi to thrive. That duo being fit and in form means Argentina’s hopes of repeating their World Cup success in 2026 are looking pretty good.
How to watch Argentina vs Peru live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7pm ET Tuesday (November 19)
Venue: La Bombanera — Buenos Aires
Stream link, TV channel: En Espanol on Telemundo
Argentina vs Peru score: 1-0
Lautaro Martinez 55’
¡Pero que locura! Golazo de Argentina y revienta el estadio
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) November 20, 2024
🇦🇷 Argentina 1-0 Perú 🇵🇪
🔴 EN VIVO: https://t.co/s7RHsxvMe2
📺 @VIX#SudamericaEnViX pic.twitter.com/FRFH0WNraJ
Argentina team news, focus
German Pezzella and Nicolas Gonzalez are out injured, while Argentina’s starting lineup is pretty settled under Lionel Scaloni. Experienced duo Romero and Otamendi will start at center back and up front the trio of Martinez, Alvarez and Messi will continue to rip teams apart. Midfield is interesting with Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez perhaps not quite having the right balance as a trio and Leandro Paredes could come in to start in midfield.
Peru team news, focus
Peru have picked up five points from their last five games in qualifying but still sit bottom of the table. All hope is not lost, but the No. 38 ranked team in the world are up against it to make it to the 2026 World Cup. Guerrero is expected to lead the line and Jorge Fossati’s Peru will try their best to make it difficult for Argentina to break through.
Argentina vs Peru prediction
All things point to a reaction from Argentina, as Peru will do their best to hold Messi back but the hosts have so many weapons and will find a way to break through and get back on track. Argentina 3-0 Peru.
