If Bolivia fails to beat Uruguay on March 25, Lionel Messi and his teammates will secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup five rounds early.

According to the regulations, the top six teams in the South American qualifiers after 18 matches will earn a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup. The team finishing seventh will have to compete in an intercontinental playoff. Argentina currently leads with 28 points after 13 matches, 15 points ahead of seventh-placed Bolivia. As a result, in the matchday on March 25 (3 AM on March 26 Hanoi time), the reigning world champions have two scenarios to qualify early.

First, Argentina can decide their fate by drawing or winning against Brazil. In that case, Lionel Scaloni's team will remain at least 13 points ahead of Bolivia with only four matches left.

Second, Argentina can qualify without earning any more points. The Bolivia vs. Uruguay match takes place five hours before Argentina vs. Brazil. If Bolivia fails to beat Uruguay, they will be 15 or 14 points behind Argentina before the last four matches. In that case, Scaloni’s squad will qualify even before their game against Brazil kicks off.

Excluding the three host nations (USA, Mexico, and Canada), the 2026 World Cup has so far confirmed only two teams—Japan (Asia) and New Zealand (Oceania). In this week's matches, Iran and Argentina could be the next two teams to qualify.

Due to injuries, Argentina will be without Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Paulo Dybala. However, in their away match on March 20, the reigning world champions secured a 1-0 victory over Uruguay.

Argentina currently leads the table with 28 points, having won nine matches, drawn one, and lost three. They are six points ahead of second-placed Ecuador and seven ahead of Brazil. The three teams that have defeated Argentina so far are Uruguay (2-0), Colombia (2-1), and Paraguay (2-1). However, Scaloni’s team has also secured 1-0 victories over both Paraguay and Uruguay.