Argentina Strengthens World Cup Bid with 3-0 Win Over Chile

Argentina cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Chile on Thursday, further solidifying their path to the 2026 World Cup. Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, and Paulo Dybala secured the win for the South American champions in front of a packed home crowd.

Despite missing captain Lionel Messi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, Argentina displayed dominant form. They now sit at the top of the South American qualifying standings with 18 points, five points ahead of Uruguay, who face Paraguay on Friday.

Liverpool’s Mac Allister opened the scoring just three minutes into the second half, finishing off an Álvarez cross. The Manchester City forward then added a second with a stunning long-range effort, giving Argentina full control of the match. Substitute Paulo Dybala sealed the win in stoppage time, finishing a pass from Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The match also saw a tribute to Angel Di Maria, who recently retired from international football, marking a special moment at the Monumental stadium.