Lionel Messi will be missing for Argentina due to injury as they continue 2026 World Cup qualification against Chile.

 

Qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup resumes in South America, with Argentina looking to build on the strong start they made in CONMEBOL in 2023. Lionel Scaloni’s team is two points clear of Uruguay at the top of the standings after five wins from their opening six matches, the last of which saw them record a victory in Brazil.

Their first opponents in September are Chile, who have not started their qualification campaign well. Five points from their opening six games leave them in eighth place in the table, with only Bolivia and Peru below them. The top six teams all qualify for the World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the country finishing seventh and taking part in a playoff.

Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing for Argentina against Chile?

Argentina captain Lionel Messi hasn’t played since suffering an ankle ligament injury in the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia in mid-July. He should return to action for Inter Miami fairly soon but isn’t ready for the September qualifiers.

Argentina and Chile met in the group stage of the Copa América at the end of June, with the World Champions winning 1-0 thanks to a late Lautaro Martínez goal.

What time does Argentina-CChile start?

The game between Argentina and Chile will be played on Thursday, September 5, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

How can I watch Argentina-CChile?

The following channels and streaming services will be broadcasting the game live in the US: UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, ViX.

Form guide for Argentina vs. Chile

Let’s have a look at the most recent games for these two teams:

Argentina-CChile prediction

Argentina lost their last home World Cup qualifier to Uruguay but will expect to return to winning ways in Buenos Aires against Chile, who have won only one of nine competitive games since the start of 2023. Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Chile.