Uruguay Defeats Argentina 2-1 in International Friendly at La Bombonera

Uruguay defeated Argentina 2-1 in an international friendly on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Alberto J. Armando stadium, also known as La Bombonera, in Buenos Aires. The match, which took place during a FIFA international date, marked the 198th edition of the Clásico del Río de la Plata. While some sources report the match occurred on November 13, others report the date as November 14.

Match Highlights and Scoring

The scoring opened in the 47th minute when Leonardo Balerdi scored an own goal for Uruguay. Uruguay extended their lead in the 53rd minute through a goal by Maximiliano Araújo. Argentina attempted to respond throughout the match, recording 17 shots on goal and maintaining 72% ball possession. Julián Álvarez eventually scored for Argentina in the 72nd minute to bring the score to 2-1.

Approximately 20,000 spectators attended the match, which represented nearly 40% of the stadium capacity. Following the match, Uruguay coach Diego Forlán noted that beating Argentina is a significant challenge and stated that the team must keep working.

Team Context and Reactions

This match was Argentina's first game without Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football after the 2026 World Cup. Argentina goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, who served as the match captain, said that while the start is sad, there is a promising future and the team is on the right path. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni asked for patience and noted that despite the lack of reward, the team is in a transition process. Coach Lionel Scaloni has an extension on his contract until after the 2030 World Cup.

Uruguay player Ronald Araújo stated that the win helps the team grow and noted that they were organized despite the difficulty of the match. Historically, Argentina has 92 wins against Uruguay, while Uruguay has 59 wins and 46 draws against Argentina.

Upcoming Fixtures

Both teams will continue their schedules with upcoming international matches. Argentina's next match of the year will be against Costa Rica in Córdoba. Uruguay will face the Dominican Republic in Maldonado for their next scheduled match.

Glossary

• La Bombonera — The Alberto J. Armando stadium is also known as La Bombonera. It is located in Buenos Aires.
• Buenos Aires — Buenos Aires is a location that contains the Alberto J. Armando stadium. It is also the place where Alfie died.
• Clásico del Río de la Plata — The Clásico del Río de la Plata is a traditional football match played between Uruguay and Argentina. It is one of the oldest classics outside of the British Isles.