Match story
- Brazil was more accurate in front of goal (50% on target vs 38%).
- Argentina held more of the ball (56% possession).
Argentina and Brazil drew 1-1 in the World Cup - Qualification South America. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 3 stage in the 2018 season. The match was played at El Monumental in Buenos Aires. Antonio Javier Arias Alvarenga, Paraguay officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Argentina vs Brazil meeting in World Cup - Qualification South America with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Argentina and Brazil. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
World Cup - Qualification South AmericaRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Mauricio Pochettino has signed a new deal to lead the USMNT until the 2030 World Cup, with U.S. Soccer receiving the backup from external fundings to back his multimillion-dollar salary. Mauricio Pochettino has officially signed a contract extension with the United States Men’s National Team to lead the program through the 2030 World Cup, extending a cycle that began in 2024. However, just as with his inaugural contract, U.S. Soccer will once again rely on private philanthropic backing to fund the Argentine manager’s multimillion-dollar salary. Following his initial appointment in 2024, a tax filing released in March 2026 revealed that Pochettino earned roughly $5 million in his first seven months on the job. Excluding a $2.5 million signing bonus, annual projections for his base salary and incentives pushed his earnings near $6 million per year, making him the third-highest-paid national team manager at the 2026 World Cup behind Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti ($11.3 million) and Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann ($7.9 million). While the exact financial terms of his new four-year deal have not been made public, a comparable salary structure would see Pochettino collect approximately $24 million over the full lifecycle of the contract through 2030. Ken Griffin serves as main U.S. Soccer financial benefactor once again Just as he did during Pochettino’s initial hiring, Ken Griffin, Founder and CEO of Miami-based Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst, has stepped up as the lead private donor behind the extension, alongside other high-net-worth individuals and corporate sponsors. U.S. Soccer confirmed the financial arrangement in an official press release: Kenneth C. Griffin speaks at TIME100 Impact Dinner (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME). “This appointment and broader investment in the U.S. Men’s National Team program is being supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder and CEO of Citadel and Founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, Adam Freede, and several commercial partners.“ Griffin’s financial involvement with soccer in the United States spans nearly a decade, starting with a $3 million donation to the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2017 to fund 50 urban mini-pitches in Chicago. In 2023, he pledged an additional $5 million to build 50 more mini-pitches across Miami-Dade County following Citadel’s corporate relocation to South Florida. Pochettino sets expectations ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle Under the new agreement, Pochettino is locked in through 2030, putting him at the helm for the 2026-27 and 2028-29 CONCACAF Nations League tournaments, the 2027 Gold Cup, the 2028 Copa America (expected to return to American soil), and ultimately the 2030 World Cup. Having already capped 62 different players during his first two years in charge, Pochettino expressed optimism for the future in the federation’s announcement: “Working together with U.S. Soccer over the past two years, it has become clear to us that there is tremendous potential to make the Men’s National Team program even stronger,” said Pochettino on the press release. “The passion we experienced from the fans throughout the World Cup only strengthened our belief in what is possible here. We want to try to have a lasting impact on the sport in the country that has welcomed us so warmly and for that impact to extend beyond results on the field,” he added, seeking to build on the momentum generated by the team’s 2026 World Cup run.
Premier League champions have £70m offer turned downBrazil midfielder has arrived at Newcastle training campArsenal have stepped up their attempt to sign Bruno Guimarães by finally beginning formal transfer negotiations and making an opening offer, which Newcastle have rejected.Guimarães met Newcastle’s incoming manager, Matthias Jaissle, for the first time on Monday at the team’s pre-season training camp at La Manga after a post-World Cup holiday in Brazil. Continue reading...
Mikel Arteta’s team and the Brazilian star could be a perfect match. It also could be a risk that ends in disasterSometimes what is needed is something different.There is a long history in football of counterintuitive thinking being successful, of the benefits of creative tension, of adding grit to the oyster to generate the pearl, but even so, the news that talks between Vinícius Júnior and Arsenal on personal terms are progressing comes as something of a shock. Mikel Arteta’s great followers of a blueprint adding a free spirit like the Brazilian? Really?This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Amid Inter Miami's ongoing investigations over tampering, LA Galaxy GM Will Kuntz stated that "Casemiro 'only wanted to play for the Galaxy." Casemiro’s signing with Inter Miami generated as much controversy as it did headline buzz, with MLS opening a formal investigation into the player’s Discovery Rights following tampering allegations against the Florida club. LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz has now broken the silence, revealing that before the midfielder expressed a desire to join the Herons, “Casemiro only wanted to play for the Galaxy.“ When Casemiro was unveiled as Inter Miami‘s newest addition, MLS released a statement confirming a tampering investigation into the South Florida club. ESPN confirmed that the Galaxy filed the grievance because the Western Conference club held Casemiro’s Discovery Rights, alleging that Miami initiated unauthorized contract talks with the Brazilian star anyway. During Casemiro’s introductory press conference, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas addressed the allegations and denied any rule violations: “In this case, the executives at Inter Miami, especially Alberto Marrero, respected the letter of the MLS law regarding the Discovery List. We did not enter talks until we settled with the LA Galaxy. We abided; we did not enter negotiations with Casemiro or his reps without talking to the Galaxy and the league until given the green light“. While emphasizing that the Discovery List remains confidential (making it impossible to know beforehand if the Galaxy held his rights), Mas defended his front office’s actions. “If the Galaxy made a bona fide offer, that team retained the rights to Casemiro. In that case, there is a negotiation between clubs where the league gets involved…Supposedly, we violated the rule while we were negotiating with the Galaxy. There was an accusation made, which we did not tamper whatsoever,” Mas added. Jorge Mas, managing owner of Inter Miami CF, and Casemiro speak to the media. Casemiro also acknowledged speaking directly with the Galaxy, stating he made his preference for Miami clear due to personal ties to the city. “When I spoke to them (the Galaxy), I made it very clear which team I wanted to join in MLS, and that is Inter Miami because of the project, the ambition, and of course to play alongside the greatest player of all time,” the midfielder noted. LA Galaxy disputes timeline of Casemiro’s stance Left without the star midfielder, the Galaxy front office pushed back publicly regarding the timeline of events. On Saturday, following a scoreless draw against FC Dallas, General Manager Will Kuntz met with media members to address ongoing club business, with the Inter Miami tampering dispute taking center stage. In comments captured by The Galactic Tribune’s Alex Ruiz, Kuntz offered a pointed rebuttal: “Look, I know there’s been a few things said. The league is going to release their findings. It’s true that Casemiro called and said that he always wanted to play at Inter Miami. It’s also true that came two months after he told us that he only wanted to play for the Galaxy. So I think, do with that what you will.” What lies ahead in the MLS tampering investigation? Two weeks have passed since MLS launched its probe into Casemiro’s transfer to Inter Miami, though the league has yet to release its official findings or ruling. “The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” MLS stated in its initial release. In the meantime, Casemiro has featured in Inter Miami’s last two fixtures against CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, starting both matches (and accidentally scoring an own goal in the latter). He is expected to remain in the starting XI for upcoming Leagues Cup matches while the league’s review, along with any potential sanctions against Inter Miami or the player, remains pending.
Inter Miami are reportedly looking to pair up Kevin De Bruyne with Lionel Messi, while some other MLS clubs are also monitoring the Belgian's potential signing. Lionel Messi received a massive boost during the 2026 summer transfer window when Brazilian powerhouse Casemiro signed on to anchor Inter Miami‘s midfield. Now, a marquee target has resurfaced, with reports indicating the South Florida franchise wants to pair Kevin De Bruyne alongside Messi despite growing competition across Major League Soccer. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, De Bruyne could be granted an exit route from Napoli during the current transfer window. Following a Scudetto-winning campaign in his debut season, the 2025-26 stretch proved challenging for the Belgian playmaker, who missed significant time between late October and late February due to a leg flexor injury. A transfer during the current window represents Napoli’s cleanest path to securing a return on investment for De Bruyne, whose deal with the Italian side runs through June 2027. Under those terms, Mundo Deportivo reports that Inter Miami remains eager to pair the midfield maestro with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul. Back in June 2025, both Inter Miami and expansion side San Diego FC submitted inquiries regarding a potential move to MLS, a destination that remains attractive to the player. While De Bruyne chose to remain in Europe at the time, the 35-year-old coming off his final World Cup run in 2026 is increasingly open to a North American transition. Kevin De Bruyne #7 of Belgium applauds fans after the elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Inter Miami faces domestic competition for De Bruyne Sharing the pitch with Messi has emerged as Inter Miami’s ultimate recruitment tool, appealing to former Barcelona teammates like Suarez, international colleagues like De Paul, and former rivals like Sergio Reguilón and Casemiro. However, with all Designated Player spots currently occupied and General Allocation Money (GAM) capped, rival clubs are positioning themselves to swoop in. Mundo Deportivo reports that the Chicago Fire and San Diego FC are actively monitoring De Bruyne’s availability. Chicago holds an open Designated Player slot following the departure of leading scorer Hugo Cuypers, while San Diego could open a slot through a potential departure of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, giving both clubs a roster flexibility advantage over Miami. Inter Miami holds crucial regulatory edge Speculation surrounding De Bruyne intensified following reports from The Athletic that MLS owners are pushing for roster rule modifications, specifically moving toward a more flexible salary structure. While structural rule changes won’t offer immediate relief, the Herons still possess a major leverage point over their domestic rivals. Inter Miami currently controls De Bruyne’s MLS Discovery Rights, positioning the club to lead any negotiations should the Belgian decide to make the move stateside. Miami filed for those rights following his departure from Manchester City, meaning both Chicago and San Diego would have to trade for those rights with South Florida before making a formal contract offer to the player.
Barco a left-back who can also play in midfieldPlayer had spell at Brighton before move to FranceChelsea have signed the Argentina international Valentín Barco from their sister club Strasbourg on a seven-year deal.The 22-year-old, who played seven times for Brighton including six Premier League appearances during the 2023-24 season, becomes the eighth arrival of new manager Xabi Alonso’s reign. Continue reading...
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained how Lionel Messi was able to return to the MLS in less than two weeks from the 2026 World Cup final. Lionel Messi has officially returned to the pitch for Inter Miami following Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final. Less than two weeks after squaring off against Spain, head coach Guillermo Hoyos shed light on the driving forces behind the superstar’s MLS rapid turn-around. Following the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, Messi took a brief vacation before reporting back to Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale training facility on Wednesday. With only a couple of team sessions under his belt, the legendary forward suited up to aid the Herons in their ongoing quest for MLS hardware. On Saturday, Aug. 1, Inter Miami hosted the Columbus Crew. Rather than watching from a luxury box as originally expected, Messi was named to the matchday squad as a substitute. The captain entered in the 53rd minute and made an immediate impact, firing four shots (one on target), though the Herons ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw after Columbus midfielder Brais Mendez scored an 84th-minute equalizer. In his postgame press conference, Hoyos praised the dedication of his squad, singling out international stars Messi and Rodrigo De Paul: “I want to thank all the players for the effort they put in. I especially want to thank Leo and Rodri for traveling and showing up so soon after the World Cup. That was very important. This is a difficult, competitive league. We were winning in the 86th minute and wanted three points, but ended up with one. The game escaped us in the final minutes.“ Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the Columbus Crew. Hoyos on what drove Messi’s accelerated return Despite turning 39 during the 2026 World Cup, Messi defied expectations by making his return to competitive play in less than a fortnight. Instead of waiting for the club’s upcoming Leagues Cup debut, the Argentine legend insisted on getting match minutes under his belt against Columbus. When asked how Messi managed to stay fit and return so quickly, Hoyos offered a simple explanation: “Love for the game. The feeling towards a team as well. He is a football player, and when we are football players, we never leave football behind. Today I am a manager, but I will never stop being a football player. It is a very strong feeling.“ Hoyos’ sentiment aligns with Messi’s actions during his abbreviated time off. While resting in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, the star was spotted supporting Leones FC (the fourth-division club presided over by his brother, Matias) proving that even during his downtime, soccer remains front and center. Inter Miami now shifts its focus to the 2026 Leagues Cup, opening tournament play against Mexican side Atletico San Luis on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Nu Stadium. Following his cameo against the Crew, Messi’s participation is all but guaranteed.
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