World champions Argentina defeated Chile 3-0 in the seventh round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday evening. Alexis Mac Allister broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, while Julian Alvarez in the 84th and Paulo Dybala in stoppage time completed the win. Argentina were without their top star Lionel Messi, who’s still recovering from an ankle injury. They top the standings in the South American qualifiers, five points ahead of second-placed Uruguay. Brazil are sixth, the last spot that secures a direct qualification to the World Cup.