Argentina vs Chile LIVE score, FIFA World Cup qualifier: ARG 0-0 CHI; Match kicks off; Messi out due to injury

De Paul plays a ball through for Lautaro who gives it back with a spectacular backheel.

De Paul charges into the box and strikes the ball with power and forces a good save from Arias.

Argentina is playing with fire as Romero passes the ball back to Martinez, who in turn passes it sideward to Otamendi despite the incoming pressure from Eduardo Vargas. 

The Argentine players keep calm and play the ball out from the Chilean press.

De Paul finds Molina on the right. He tries to play a through ball to Alvarez into the box but there is too much power on the pass as it rolls out for a goal kick.

Once again Molina drives down the right wing and squares the ball to Alvarez at the edge of the box. He turns and lays it off to De Paul who tries to hit it with the outside of his foot.

Catalan gets in the way and head the ball away for a corner.

Some heated moments already in the match as Romero brings down Victor Davila with a harsh challenge from behind in the middle of the pitch. 

The Chilean players immediately crowd the referee asking for a card. The referee waves the players away and says no card. Romero is lucky to escape a yellow card there.

Argentina maintains possession of the ball in the opening minutes of the match. Molina whips in a cross from the right which is brought down by Martinez inside the box. He cannot keep it under control as a charging Alvarez swipes at it.

He fires it into the stands in the end.

Argentina kicks off the match shooting from right to left.

Angel Di Maria is felicitated and presented before the home crowd after he announced his retirement following Argentina’s Copa America 2024 triumph in July.

The players have made their way into the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires. Nicolas Otamendi leads Argentina while Mauricio Isla leads Chile.

Emiliano Martinez (GK), Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi (C), Lisandro Martinez, Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Nicolas Gonzalez

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Why is Lionel Messi not playing in Argentina vs Chile FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match?

Lionel Messi will not be part of the Argentina squad that will take on Chile in the FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifiers on Friday at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The last time Argentina and Chile faced each other was in the Copa America 2024 group stage, where Lionel Messi and Co. secured a 1-0 win, thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Lautaro Martinez.

Played - 96

Argentina - 63

Chile - 8

Draws - 25

Gabriel Arias (GK), Mauricio Isla (C), Paulo Diaz, Thomas Galdames, Matias Catalan, Marcelino Nunez, Rodrigo Echeverria, Felipe Loyola, Dario Osorio, Eduardo Vargas, Victor Davila 

World Cup and Copa America holder Argentina will take on Chile in the FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifiers on Friday at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Argentina is currently top of the qualifying table standings with 15 points after winning five of the six matches it has played so far. Chile on the other hand are struggling in the eighth position with just one win in its six games (two draws and three losses).

The top six teams from the group after all the qualifying matches will gain direct qualification to the World Cup finals to be held in USA, Mexico and Canada, while the seventh-placed team will compete in the inter-confederation play-off.

Talisman Lionel Messi will not be available to play in the match after he was left out of the 28-man squad following an ankle injury sustained during last month’s Copa America final in the United States.

River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani was also left out of the squad, as was striker Angel Di Maria, who announced his retirement from the national team after the Copa America.

Coach Lionel Scaloni named midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez and striker Valentin Castellanos for the first time, along with young players with few international caps, including Alejandro Garnacho, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Barco and Matias Soule

The Argentina vs Chile FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifying match will not be available for telecast in India.

You can follow Sportstar’s live blog of the game for updates.

The Argentina vs Chile FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifying match will kick off at 5:30 AM IST on September 6, Friday at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires.