Argentina Draws with Venezuela in Rain-Delayed Match

Lionel Messi criticized the waterlogged pitch conditions after Argentina's 1-1 draw with Venezuela in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers, stating the poor field limited the team's ability to execute their game plan. Messi's return, after recovering from an injury sustained in the Copa América final, saw him assist Nicolás Otamendi for Argentina's early lead, but Salomon Rondon equalized for Venezuela in the second half. Despite the draw, Argentina remains at the top of the qualification standings with 19 points. Meanwhile, Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Chile, thanks to Luiz Henrique's late goal, moving them to fourth place in the standings. The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup allows the top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin to qualify directly. Bolivia's upset win against Colombia and other results have intensified the competition for qualification spots.