Brazil vs Argentina live score, updates, highlights as World Cup qualifier kicks off after delay for fight

By | November 21, 2023
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Two South American giants reeling from injuries and poor results meet at the famed Maracana in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday with far more on the line than they thought.

Both Brazil and Argentina are coming off losses in their previous match, an incredible rarity for two teams that both navigated 2022 qualification without a single defeat across 17 matches.

Brazil are in worse shape, with just two wins over their first five matches of the current qualifying cycle, suffering their first-ever qualifying defeat to Colombia last time out, dropping them to fifth in the standings. They also lost star forward Vinicius Jr to a serious injury in the process, just a month after Neymar suffered a long-term knee injury as well.

Argentina, meanwhile, saw their perfect start to qualifying torn down in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay at home. The two goals conceded were their first given up since the 2022 World Cup final, and it marked just the second time ever that both Brazil and Argentina were defeated in World Cup qualifying on the same day.

The Sporting News is following the Brazil vs Argentina match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Brazil vs Argentina live score

  Score (1H) Goal scorers
Brazil 0 —
Argentina 0 —

Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. local (7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Maracana Stadium (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Referee: Piero Maza Gomez

Starting lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 2. Emerson, 3. Marquinhos, 4. Gabriel, 15. C. Augusto — Guimaraes, 8. Rodrygo, 5. Andre — 11. Raphinha, 10. Rodrygo, 7. Martinelli — 9. G. Jesus.

Argentina (4-4-2, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 2. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 8. Acuna — 7. De Paul, 17. Fernandez, 20. Mac Allister, 16. Lo Celso — 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez.

Brazil vs Argentina live updates, highlights, commentary

Brazil vs Argentina: First Half

9th min: Finally the free-kick is taken for the Jesus foul, and Nicolas Otamendi gets his head to it at the far post, but he can’t direct it even remotely close to goal, instead hitting it laterally across the penalty area.

5th min: Marcos Acuna has the first chance of the match as he has a rip from about 10 yards out, but it’s blocked.

As Brazil clear and look to break, Gabriel Jesus tries to hold Rodrigo de Paul off and ends up smacking him right in the face. Jesus looks back at de Paul before whacking him in the nose, so there does appear to be some intent, and he’s booked for the incident.

De Paul needs some treatment for a bloody nose, and Argentine players are arguing for Jesus to be sent off, but it doesn’t seem like there was quite enough in it for an escalation to a red card.

Kickoff: Finally, after a 28 minute delay for the fight in the stands, this match has kicked off at the Maracana. Buckle up, because this is absolutely going to be a wild ride.

Brazil vs Argentina: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

Update (7:55 p.m. ET): The players are back out on the field warming up, but now there’s a heated exchange between the players on the pitch. Rodrygo and Lionel Messi have some angry words between them, and then players from both sides come over to engage. What a farce this is turning into.

Update (7:50 p.m. ET): Argentine players are seen returning to the pitch, which is a good sign.

Television is showing live footage of the away end, and it appears that it’s mostly been sorted out. There doesn’t appear to be any violent action currently in the visitor stand, so hopefully this match can continue shortly.

Brazilian security has had another absolute failure. There were clashes between Brazilian police and Argentina fans at the Copa Libertadores fan fest just weeks ago, and it happens again here. There needs to be a full review of how Brazilian authorities handle these large spectator events.

Before the players left the pitch, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was filmed attempting to keep Brazilian police from attacking Argentine supporters before his teammates pulled him back.

Update (7:44 p.m. ET): Brazil head coach Fernando Diniz and some of his Brazil players have remained out on the pitch as the fan violence continues, but all Argentina players and staff have exited the pitch, at Lionel Messi’s request. The match remains in the balance.

MATCH SUSPENDED: Lionel Messi and the Argentine players attempted to help sort things out as fans continued to clash with police, but the referees have pulled the players off the pitch. The players are headed back to the dressing room.

We will keep you updated as things progress. This match is suddenly at real risk of being called off if things don’t calm down soon. The players and staff of both teams seem a bit distressed, especially those from Argentina.

KICKOFF DELAYED: There is a fight in the stands as Argentina fans are clashing with Brazilian police. It’s absolute chaos in the away end. The match was just about to kick off, but now the players have been told to wait as things are sorted out.

It seems the clash was started between the two sets of fans, and Brazilian police responded angrily to the away fans. Argentina supporters are furious with how the local police are treating them, as they were attacked with clubs viciously. Ugly scenes.

Things have continued as Brazilian police have begun to aggressively clear out the away stand, as Argentine fans go streaming for cover. It’s absolute mayhem. What a mess.

15 mins to kickoff: Lionel Messi has done the unthinkable at the famed Maracana fortress, and that is to get home fans rooting for him. There are multiple Brazil fans with signs of support for their opponent in a huge rivalry match. It’s hard to imagine any other player in the history of the game achieving something like this. Everywhere he goes, he’s beloved.

30 mins to kickoff: Argentina may very well have to win this match to stay atop the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings. Marcelo Bielsa has Uruguay on an absolute tear, having already beaten both Argentina and Brazil.

They have already kicked off at home against Bolivia, and just 15 minutes in Darwin Nunez has scored another exceptional goal to give them a 1-0 lead in Montevideo. A win tonight would give Uruguay the table’s top spot, unless Argentina match that to stay at the summit.

45 mins to kickoff: Lineups are in, and Lionel Messi starts for Argentina in a 4-4-2, which deviates from Lionel Scaloni’s usual 4-3-3 deployment. Gio Lo Celso comes into the midfield, with Nico Gonzalez withdrawn.

For Brazil, Gabriel Jesus is deployed up front alongside Raphinha and Gabriel Martinelli, while Endrick will have to wait for his first international start.

1 hour to kickoff: CONMEBOL yesterday announced the venues for the 2024 Copa America opening match and final. The final will be held in Miami, Florida, where one-third of the Argentine population in the United States resides. If these two teams end up meeting in that match, as they did three years ago, it could be a relatively sizable home-field advantage for the Albiceleste.

MORE: Get the latest on everything we know about the 2024 Copa America venues here

1 hour 15 mins to kick: While Brazil struggle with so many injuries, today is a massive opportunity for young attacking players Endrick and Joao Pedro. The former, just 17 years old, stuck some extra needle in this tie by saying he preferred Cristiano Ronaldo to today’s opponent Lionel Messi, a sensible decision having just joined Real Madrid.

A photo of a young Endrick pointing at a poster of then-Palmeiras prospect Gabriel Jesus has been making the rounds, and now he may get his chance to deputize as the main man up front. If not, he will surely see time off the bench.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: It’s often the case that we know the likely starting lineup for Argentina even up to a day or two before the match. This time, though, head coach Lionel Scaloni has gone with a different tactic — he’s decided not to tell even his players until they arrive at the stadium. Team news to come in 30 minutes.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: The last time these two teams faced off at the famed Maracana, it was a milestone moment for Lionel Messi, who secured his elusive first major international trophy by winning the Copa America final in July 2021.

With no fans in attendance, Angel Di Maria’s 22nd minute goal was enough to snag a 1-0 victory and give Argentina the title.

2 hours to kickoff: While always a thrilling affair, the match between Brazil and Argentina usually has little tangible bearing on the CONMEBOL qualifying standings, as both are often sitting in comfortable positions. With the World Cup expansion seeing more teams reach the final tournament this cycle, it was expected that this match would have even less competitive meaning.

Yet now, with Argentina sitting precariously atop the standings and Brazil languishing down in fifth, there’s far more than simply pride on the line at the Maracana tonight.

Brazil vs Argentina lineups, team news

The major news for Brazil is a knee injury that forced attacker Vinicius Jr out of the Colombia game during the first half and could keep the Real Madrid livewire out until 2024. Manchester United midfielder and Brazil captain Casemiro is out of the squad with a hamstring problem. The Selecao are also without Neymar due to a long-term knee injury.

Ederson pulled out of the squad injured, so Liverpool’s Alisson starts in goal again.Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus missed the Colombia game with a hamstring issue, but returns to full fitness in this match, meaning young Endrick will have to wait for his first international start.

Brazil starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson (GK) — Emerson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, C. Augusto — Guimaraes, Andre — Raphinha, Rodrygo, Martinelli — G. Jesus.

Brazil subs (12): Bento (GK), Perri (GK), Bremer, Nino, R. Lodi, D. Luiz, Veiga, Paulinho, Joelinton, Pepe, J. Pedro, Endrick.

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho didn’t make the Argentina squad, which is a sign of how much strength in depth manager Lionel Scaloni can call upon.

Lionel Messi, as expected, start in a free role alongside Julian Alvarez in a 4-4-2, with the likes of Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez tasked with covering the ground behind him. Gio Lo Celso is recalled for his first start since before the 2022 World Cup, as he add an extra midfielder in place of winger Nico Gonzalez.

Argentina starting lineup (4-4-2): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna — Mac Allister, Fernandez, De Paul, Lo Celso — Messi, Alvarez.

Argentina subs (12): Armani (GK), Musso (GK), Tagliafico, Pezzella, Montiel, G. Rodriguez, Paredes, Palacios, Ocampos, N. Gonzalez, Di Maria, L. Martinez.

How to watch Brazil vs Argentina

Here’s how to watch this World Cup Qualifier across selected areas of the world’s major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo Vix
Canada  —

 —
UK  —  bet365
Australia  —  —
India  —  —
Hong Kong  —  —
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 Astro Go, sooka
Singapore  —  —
New Zealand  —  —
International — bet365, Fanatiz

Brazil vs Argentina betting odds, lines

  BRA
win		 Draw ARG
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals
DraftKings
(USA)		 +160

+210

 +195 +110 / -135 +160 / -200

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