World Cup 2026: Argentina In A Hurry

Peru vs Argentina

After three rounds of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers Argentina are top of the CONMEBOL table as the only nation with three wins from three; and now they have a golden chance to make it four from four.

CONMEBOL: Peru vs Argentina is a clash between ninth place and first as the hosts have picked up a single point so far. This is no time for anyone to panic as the South American league is so strong that the top six nations from ten will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with the seventh place picking up an inter-confederation qualifier. 

A win for Peru would make a world of difference but they face a team with seven consecutive victories since their 2022 World Cup triumph. It looks like Argentina are in a hurry to confirm themselves as one of the favourites for 2026 and they will take some stopping.        

Los Incas are the next in line, and the pre-match Peru vs Argentina betting odds reckon they have a mountain to climb. 

Talking Points

Messi in race to be fit for Argentina

He missed Inter Miami’s run in to the play-offs and Argentina captain Lionel Messi is doubtful for this clash with Peru after playing a limited part in La Albiceleste’s latest win, over Paraguay. The nature of Messi’s injury is a little uncertain; he sustained a muscle strain and missed Miami’s last four games and, after making a second half appearance on Friday, he looked concerned at the end of the game. The seven times Ballon D’Or winner is still at the top of his game and, after climbing off the bench on 53 minutes he was a whisker away from scoring when a free-kick crashed back off the crossbar.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni said: “We’ll talk over the next few days. It’s not ruled out that he will play against Peru. Today, I think it was a risk to give him more minutes than normal.” Scaloni has the in-form Julian Alvarez to call on; the striker has been in sensation form for Manchester City in the Champions League and, alongside Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez he represents a constant danger. Argentina dominated from start to finish; but it was a defender who won the game against Paraguay, when Nicolas Otamendi fired home with a spectacular volley from a corner, his fifth goal in 106 appearances for Argentina.

Slow start may cost Peru

Peru boss Juan Reynoso has plenty of work to do having watched his side lose 2-0 away to Chile, a result which left them needing a win to climb into the play-off spot. Of course, these are early days, but when you see Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile in the top five places then the Incas are in danger of being consigned to a battle for the CONMEBOL scraps with the likes of Venezuela, who have just picked up a 1-1 draw with Brazil by the way.

Peru were totally toothless against Chile, failing to register a shot on target in the entire game. Striker Paolo Guerrero, now 39 years of age, is still full of running but there’s little chance of him adding to his 39 goals in 112 games if he is starved of service as he was on Friday. He cut a frustrated figure, picking up a yellow card for arguing with the referee, and Andy Polo alongside him never looked like scoring. He has just one goal in 42 appearances. The front men need something to work on, and the best hopes of a supply of chances comes from Boca Juniors winger Luis Advincula who is normally a livewire, but he too was strangely subdued against Chile.

And hey, while this is a home game, Reynoso knows his defence are in for a busy night.                 

History

The head to head Peru vs Argentina results tell a story of total domination by the La Albiceleste, with ten wins and four draws from the last 14 meetings. The last two encounters ended in a 1-0 win for Argentina in 2021 and a 2-0 victory a year earlier. 

And recent form points one way too. While Argentina are on a seven match winning streak; Peru are winless in four. 

Betting Tip

Argentina are red hot favourites to win in Peru, at odds of 1.32 with the hosts at 7.33 and the draw is at 3.97.

For a correct score-line either 1-0 at SBOTOP odds of 4.45 or 2-0 to Argentina at a

price of 4.84 looks very likely, but 3-0 at 7.72 or 2-1 at 8.44 will score for us too. La Albiceleste should certainly win, and providing Peru don’t capitulate, 2-3 goals looks good to me.   

 

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