Uruguay vs. Argentina: WCQ Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

On Friday, Argentina will face Uruguay in Montevideo, continuing their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. With 25 points, the 2022 World Cup champions are in first place, with Uruguay in second place, five points behind.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Since taking over as coach of Uruguay in May 2023, Marcelo Bielsa—who had previously managed Argentina—has compiled a 12–5–4 record.

Although Bielsa oversaw four victories in Uruguay's first six World Cup qualification matches, the team has slowed down in their most recent six matches, winning only one.

In the previous international window in November, after a 3-2 home win over Colombia and a 1-1 away draw with Brazil, La Celeste would have been content with their performance. Thanks to their efforts, they finished the window in second place, seven points ahead of Bolivia in seventh place.

The outcome is that Uruguay will very certainly qualify for next year's tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico without any more action on their part.

After facing his home nation twice as Chile's manager (W1, D1) and in the inverse match as Uruguay's coach, Bielsa is getting ready to meet Argentina for the fourth time in his managing career.

Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez scored in a 2-0 away victory for Uruguay against Argentina in November 2023. It was the first time Uruguay had won a match against Argentina since October 2013

After 12 qualifying matches, Argentina leads the league by five points thanks to their 8 wins, 1 tie, and 3 losses.

So, La Albiceleste will keep going until they finally win it all. They have made it to every World Cup final since 1970 (when they were eliminated in Mexico).

Although they are satisfied with their current position, the defending champions may have been disappointed with their performance in the six qualifiers that followed their victory in the Copa America in the United States last summer, winning just three of them.

Their last three away games in 2024 yielded only one point, meaning they haven't won a World Cup qualifying match on the road since their 1-0 victory against Brazil in November 2023. All three of those wins came at home.

Argentina will not play again unless they break their three-game home winning streak without allowing an opponent to score. That victory came in November when they defeated Peru 1-0 at home.

Messi assisted in the winning goal in that match, but he will sit out Friday's match owing to an injury that Lionel Scaloni decided not to start.

The fact that La Albiceleste has won three of its past four meetings against Friday's opponents, including a 1-0 triumph in its most recent away encounter in November 2021, should still serve as motivation, even if it lost to Uruguay in the opposite game.

Uruguay x Argentina Team News

Bielsa has strangely decided to designate a 38-man team for the upcoming matches against Argentina and Bolivia. This means that many players will have to make do with training time instead of playing a significant role in the contests.

Manuel Ugarte, a midfielder for Manchester United, is in the lineup despite serving a suspension for Friday's match owing to a buildup of yellow cards.

After sitting out Uruguay's past six qualifying matches with an injury, Araujo is finally going to get to play for his country since July.

Even though he has acknowledged his poor form, Liverpool attacker Raul Nunez will be looking to gain confidence during the international break and score his first goal for his country since the second group stage match of the 2018 Copa America.

Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 on Sunday, but Argentina's all-time leading scorer, Lionel Messi, will miss the rest of the season with an adductor injury.

Because of injuries, Scaloni is also missing Gonzalo Montiel, Giovani Lo Celso, and Paulo Dybala.

Lautaro Martinez, an Inter Milan striker, has withdrawn from the Argentina team due to a hamstring problem. He joins the list of players not participating.

Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid will have the opportunity to wear Argentina's legendary number 10 jersey for the next two matches in Messi's absence.

Our Predictions

Uruguay to win @ 2.49 on Sky247.ng

Given that Argentina will be missing key players like Lionel Messi and Alberto Martinez, Uruguay's home victories over Brazil and Colombia this qualifying cycle, and Argentina's two losses in its last three away qualifiers, we expect the hosts to seize this opportunity to win the match.

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