The new year, 2025, has begun, and with it, two years have passed since Lionel Messi’s Argentina won the World Cup. With only about 18 months remaining until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, this year holds great significance for teams preparing for the global event. It is in this year that the shape of the World Cup will largely be determined, giving teams the opportunity to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
When it comes to World Cup football, Argentina and Brazil are often the first teams that come to mind. The question now is: What opportunities do these two teams have for preparation this year? Will they have enough matches to fine-tune their squads?
Both Argentina and Brazil will play six matches in the World Cup qualifiers this year. Argentina, in particular, is making significant progress toward securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Currently, Argentina sits at the top of the qualification standings with 25 points from 12 matches, 5 points ahead of second-placed Uruguay. The main challenge for Argentina is not qualifying but maintaining their momentum and continuing their strong performance.
However, despite their top position, Argentina struggled in the latter part of the previous year. In their last five matches, they won two, lost two, and drew one. Additionally, there is the concern of having Messi fully fit for the team. This year is crucial for Argentina to work on team coordination, and the upcoming fixtures will be pivotal in this regard.
Argentina will play their first two World Cup qualification matches in March. On March 20, they will face Uruguay, followed by a highly anticipated match against Brazil on March 25. If Argentina can win both of these challenging matches, they will start the year on a strong note.
After March, Argentina’s next two matches will be in June against Chile and Colombia. In September, they will face Venezuela and Ecuador in the final two qualifiers of the year.
In addition to the World Cup qualifiers, Argentina will also have the opportunity to play friendly matches in October and November, although the opponents and venues for these matches have yet to be confirmed. Moreover, Argentina will participate in another major competition this year, the Finalissima, where they will face UEFA Euro champions Spain. The date for this match has not been fixed due to a busy schedule. Argentina is the reigning champion of this competition, having defeated Italy in the 2022 final at Wembley.
On the other hand, Brazil’s situation heading into 2025 is far from ideal. After their quarterfinal exit from the 2022 World Cup, Brazil has endured a difficult two years. Their struggles were so severe that if the World Cup qualification rules had been as stringent as before, Brazil might have faced challenges in securing their place.
Currently, Brazil occupies 5th place in the qualification standings with 18 points from 12 matches (5 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses). Although there are no major concerns about qualifying, there are many questions about the team’s preparation. After a promising start under manager Diniz Junior, Brazil lost their way and were eliminated from the Copa América in disappointing fashion.
This year, Brazil must put all their past failures behind them. They need to use the remaining six World Cup qualification matches to get back on track and work on team coordination. While the squad has star players, the key challenge for Diniz Junior will be getting the best out of every player.
Like Argentina, Brazil’s first two World Cup qualification matches will be in March. They will play Colombia on March 20 and face Argentina on March 25. Afterward, Brazil’s June fixtures will be against Ecuador (June 4) and Paraguay (June 9). In September, Brazil will play Chile on September 9 and Bolivia on September 14. Additionally, Brazil has friendly matches scheduled for October and November.
