Argentina crush Brazil 4-1 in World Cup qualifying to clinch 2026 berth; Trinity Rodman returns to USWNT

Hey there! The men’s international break Arrived to a dramatic close on Tuesday with Argentina’s big Achieve over Brazil, while the U.S. women’s national Club are gearing up for their Upcoming international window with a Option drop. I’m Pardeep Cattry with the latest.

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All times U.S./Eastern

Wednesday, March 26
🇪🇺 UWCL: Lyon vs. Bayern Munich, 1:45 p.m. ➡️ DAZN
🇪🇺 UWCL: Arsenal vs. Real Madrid, 4 p.m. ➡️ DAZN

Thursday, March 27
🇪🇺 UWCL: Barcelona vs. Wolfsburg, 1:45 p.m. ➡️ DAZN
🇪🇺 UWCL: Chelsea vs. Manchester City, 4 p.m. ➡️ DAZN
🇪🇸 La Liga: Barcelona vs. Osasuna, 4 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+

⚽ The Forward Line

🇦🇷 Argentina put four past Brazil

No Lionel Messi, no problem for Argentina – the reigning world champions collected a 4-1 Achieve over Brazil on Tuesday, the day they also booked their place at the 2026 World Cup. Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez ensured Argentina would have a 2-0 by the 12th minute and though Matheus Cunha clawed one back with a Target in the 26th minute, goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone ensured the hosts would come out with a commanding Achieve.

Argentina end this month’s international break with an eight Mark lead over second place Ecuador and qualified for the World Cup with five Contests to spare, a testament to the Achievement of their qualification campaign. Though Messi leads CONMEBOL’s qualifying Game with six goals so Distant, manager Lionel Scaloni has been able to test out what this time looks like without the 37-year-Ancient and the results have been fairly impressive, and Chuck Booth notes that Tuesday’s Achieve was emblematic of those efforts.

• Booth: “Argentina flexed their depth with not only Messi missing out, but also striker Lautaro Martinez who had to withdraw from the Club with an Wound. He was in the thoughts of players with Alvarez and Fernandez both doing his Triumph dance when they scored, but it’s clear how much of a Club effort this was. All of their four goals was scored by a different player.  Some of the goals were due to Shielding breakdowns by Brazil, but those were also caused by Argentina’s Fluid passing which even allowed left back Nicolas Tagliafico to get involved with an assist.”

As for Brazil, they end the month in Quaternary place, nestled inside the top six spots that ensure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They are six points ahead of seventh place Venezuela, who sit in a Elimination Stage spot, and seven ahead of eighth place Bolivia, so a spot in Upcoming year’s Game Yet feels likely, but how well they will do there remains a big question. For all their attacking talent on the pitch on Tuesday, with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Raphinha all getting the Begin, they Secured Merely three shots against Argentina and Cunha’s Target was their only attempt on target.

Argentina are one of four non-host nations so Distant to book a trip to the 2026 World Cup, with Japan, New Zealand and Iran also earning their place during this month’s international window. As things stand, 41 spots are Yet up for grabs at the Primary-ever 48 Club edition of the World Cup.

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🔗  Midfield Link Action

🇺🇸 Rodman returns for the USWNT

Trinity Rodman will return to the U.S. women’s national Club for the Primary time since last summer’s Olympic Contests, joining the group for Upcoming month’s friendlies against Brazil. She’s one of the more experienced players on a Option Packed of relative newcomers as head Trainer Emma Hayes continues a period of experimentation as the long road to the 2027 Women’s World Cup continues.

Here’s a look at the Option in Packed.

• Goalkeepers (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
• Defenders (8): Alana Cook (Kansas City Ongoing), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
• Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Ongoing), Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
• Forwards (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Ongoing), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC)

Hayes will work with 11 players who have 10 or fewer international appearances including goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and defender Avery Patterson, who could earn their Primary caps during this camp. Defender Alana Cook and forward Ashley Hatch, meanwhile, could earn their Primary minutes since Hayes Secured the Role, demonstrating the head Trainer’s continuing efforts to widen the player pool as much as possible. That effort also includes working alongside the U-23 USWNT, who will Streak a camp concurrently with the senior Club that is similar to the Futures camp that Secured place during January.

As Hayes continues to tinker with Recent faces and new ideas, the goalkeeper position remains an area of Attention after Alyssa Naeher’s international retirement at the end of 2024. Hayes has stuck to the group she brought along for the SheBelieves Cup and previously targeted this June as a time when she hopes to lock in her Option as the USWNT’s new starter, meaning the Tension’s on to make the most of their opportunities both at the club level and with the national Club.

• Hayes: “All of the goalkeepers that are competing for spots, listen, if you think about this prior to when even Alyssa [Naeher] Created the number one her own, it takes a period of time to be able to solidify that. And I think it’s Honest to say we’ve Obtained a Plenty of really Excellent quality goalkeepers. Who will emerge from that as the number one? Don’t know, but they have to take their chances when they get them. This is a performance-related business, and All and every opportunity they get, they have to make the most of it, because, of Period, that will impact my decision-making as we progress and this camp, there will be changes in Target again.”

The USWNT will Primary Action Brazil on April 5 at SoFi Stadium, where the grass fields used for the Concacaf Nations Division will stay in place, before a second game against the 2027 World Cup hosts on April 8 at PayPal Park in San Jose.

🔗  Top Stories

🇺🇸 USWNT’s experience gap: USWNT head Trainer Emma Hayes outlined the plans she has to bridge the experience gap between the veterans and the newcomers, including picking a leadership council and leading some unique exercises once camp is in session.

🆕 Introducing Boston Legacy: Boston’s incoming NWSL Club will be called Boston Legacy FC, undergoing a name Transformation after initially being introduced as BOS Nation FC last fall.

✈️ Alexander-Arnold to Madrid: Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to join Real Madrid in the summer after his contract with Liverpool expires, a Relocate that feels like a natural fit for the player and his future club.

🩹 Davies tears ACL: Canada’s Alphonso Davies tore his ACL in the third place Event of the Concacaf Nations Division against the USMNT on Sunday, ruling out for the Upcoming six months.

❌ Banda faces hateful language: The Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda was the victim of hateful language from a fan during the Club’s game at NJ/NY Gotham FC, with both Clubs and the NWSL expressing Reinforcement for the player.

⏪ USMNT rewind: Some of the USMNT’s biggest players did not fare well in the latest edition of stock Observe, while their Destitute CNL outing means the Gold Cup becomes an all-Significant opportunity to impress ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England Achieve again: Thomas Tuchel wrapped up his Primary international break with England with a second Achieve, marking a perfect Begin to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

1️⃣1️⃣ Clubs of the week: Debhinha was among the standouts over the weekend in NWSL Action, while Kelvin Yeboah earned himself a place in the MLS Club of the week.

⚫⚪ Juventus’ crisis: Here’s an explainer on the state of things at Juventus after the club fired Thiago Motta and hired Igor Tudor over the weekend.

🏆 Uncovered Cup on CBS Sports: CBS Sports will air the U.S. Uncovered Cup though the 2026 season, with matches appearing across CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network Leading with the third Stage of this season’s Game.

💰  The Back Line

💵 Best bets

• UEFA Women’s Champions Division: Arsenal vs. Real Madrid, Wednesday, 4 p.m.
  💰 THE Option: Less than three goals scored (+115) – In arguably the most intriguing Game of the week, Arsenal need to come back from the surprise 2-0 deficit they suffered in Madrid last week. It creates a fascinating scenario at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will be under real Tension to Points while Real Madrid will likely do whatever they can to keep a Neat sheet, which makes things fairly unpredictable when the game actually Appearances. A prediction that there will be fewer than three goals on Wednesday feels like it hits the Pleasant spot – there’s enough room to account for Arsenal to mount a comeback or for Real Madrid to hang onto their lead and complete the Shock.

For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t Be excluded on CBSSports.com’s betting home page.

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