Argentina is set to play in front of their home crowd for the first time since they secured their 16th Copa America title in July, defeating Colombia 1-0 after extra time to claim South America's most prestigious trophy.
Under the guidance of Lionel Scaloni, who has an impressive 71.4% win rate, Argentina has triumphed in three consecutive major tournaments and is on track to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
They've made a strong start in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, sitting atop the South American standings, two points ahead of second-placed Uruguay. They've won five of their first six qualifiers, including a notable 1-0 victory against Brazil in November last year.
Their only loss came just five days earlier when they were defeated 2-0 by Uruguay. Remarkably, this was one of only two losses in 62 matches across all competitions since July 2019.
Ranked first in the world by FIFA, Argentina can solidify their position at the top with a win over Chile on Thursday. Argentina recently beat Chile 1-0 in the Copa America group stage this summer.
Meanwhile, Chile is striving to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014 but has had a rocky start in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, with three losses, two draws, and only one win from their first six matches.
Chile's lone victory was a 2-0 win over Peru on matchday three, but they've since managed just one point from their last three qualifiers, most recently losing 1-0 to Ecuador in November last year. Following that defeat, Eduardo Berizzo resigned as head coach and was replaced by Argentinian Ricardo Gareca, who has won two, drawn two, and lost two of his first six games in charge.
Once ranked as high as third in the world by FIFA in 2016, Chile has slipped to 43rd and faced a disappointing Copa America campaign, crashing out in the group stage for the first time in two decades after picking up just one point from three matches.
Gareca and his team are eager to turn their fortunes around, but they'll face a tough challenge on Thursday, as Chile hasn't won any of their last 13 meetings with Argentina in all competitions since a narrow 1-0 victory in World Cup qualifying back in October 2008.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Argentina will be without their legendary attacker Lionel Messi as he continues to recover from the ankle injury he picked up during their Copa America final win over Colombia.
Defenders Nicolas Tagliafico and Leonardo Balerdi are also sidelined due to injuries, and both Angel Di Maria and Franco Armani have retired from international football.
With Tagliafico out, Argentina is left a bit thin at left-back, with just two-cap Valentin Barco, currently on loan at Sevilla from Brighton & Hove Albion, as the only natural option in that position for Scaloni.
To fill the gap left by Messi and Di Maria in attack, Scaloni might turn to Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, or Paulo Dybala to start alongside Julian Alvarez and Copa America Golden Boot winner Lautaro Martinez.
On the Chilean side, 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has retired from international play, and both Alexis Sanchez and Diego Valdes are out due to injuries.
Veteran players like Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel, and Francisco Sierralta have all been left out of Ricardo Gareca's squad. The only uncapped player is Swansea City's London-born goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, who will compete with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Cortes for a spot.
In midfield, Erick Pulgar could line up alongside Marcelino Nunez and Rodrigo Echeverria, while Eduardo Vargas and Ben Brereton Diaz are expected to lead the attack.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Argentina possible starting lineup:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Barco; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Gonzalez, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Chile possible starting lineup:
Arias; Isla, Lichnovsky, Maripan, Mena; Nunez, Pulgar, Echeverria; Osorio, Vargas, Brereton Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Argentina 2-0 Chile
