Argentina Held to Rain-Soaked Draw by Venezuela in World Cup Qualifier
The ninth round of South American World Cup 2026 qualifiers began with a surprising outcome as Argentina, the current world champions, settled for a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in Maturín. The match, played at the Monumental Stadium, was marred by heavy rainfall, resulting in a waterlogged pitch.
Argentina took the lead with Otamendi’s goal, but Venezuela managed to equalize through Rondón’s header. Despite the challenging conditions, both teams created scoring opportunities throughout the game.
The draw kept Argentina at the top of the qualifying table with 19 points, while Venezuela sits in seventh place, in contention for a playoff spot. Lionel Messi returned to the Argentine squad after recovering from an ankle injury, adding excitement to the match.
With both teams set to play their next matches on Tuesday, the competitive nature of South American qualifiers is evident. The unpredictable weather added an additional level of difficulty, showcasing the resilience of the players in adapting to adverse conditions.