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Argentina minus Messi beats Chile to lead South American World Cup qualifying

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Argentina minus Messi beats Chile to lead South American World Cup qualifying
Sport

Sport

Argentina minus Messi beats Chile to lead South American World Cup qualifying

2024-09-06 11:04 Last Updated At:11:10

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Without injured Lionel Messi and the retired Ángel Di María, Argentina eased past Chile 3-0 on Thursday to remain on top of the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 48, Julián Álvarez added a goal in the 84th and Paulo Dybala capped the scoring in the 90th for the Argentinians, who have 18 points after the first seven rounds.

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Players of Argentina display the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Players of Argentina display the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Players of Chile walk off the field after their 3-0 lost against Argentina in a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Players of Chile walk off the field after their 3-0 lost against Argentina in a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala scores his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala scores his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Julian Alvarez hoists the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Julian Alvarez hoists the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Teammates surround Argentina's Paulo Dybala (10) after he scored his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Teammates surround Argentina's Paulo Dybala (10) after he scored his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Bolivia's Enzo Monteiro celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's Enzo Monteiro celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's coach Oscar Villegas celebrates with Enzo Monteiro after their fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's coach Oscar Villegas celebrates with Enzo Monteiro after their fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

The top six teams in the South American standings will qualify for the World Cup which will be played in the United States, México and Canada in 2026, The team that finishes seventh will advance to a playoff against another confederation.

After winning the Copa America in the United States, Argentina overcame the absence of the 37-year-old Messi, who suffered a right ankle injury in the final against Colombia. His future playing status remains uncertain.

Di María, who has retired from the national team, was honored by fans and his teammates before the match was played at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The 37-year-old Di María played his last match with Argentina in the 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America final. He was a national team member for Argentina for 16 years.

The team later paraded its Copa America trophy around the ground.

Earlier, Bolivia took advantage of a higher altitude at its new host city and defeated Venezuela 4-0 to record its second win in four matches at home.

Ramiro Vaca opened the scoring in the 13th minute, Carmelo Algarañaz converted a penalty kick in the 45th, Miguel Terceros in the 46th and Enzo Monteiro scored in the 89th.

The Bolivians used to play in the capital La Paz at 3,640 meters (11,940 feet) above sea level, but the South American soccer body CONMEBOL allowed them to move their games to El Alto, the second largest city in the country at an altitude of 4,150 meters (13,615 feet).

Players of Argentina display the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Players of Argentina display the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez holds the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Players of Chile walk off the field after their 3-0 lost against Argentina in a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Players of Chile walk off the field after their 3-0 lost against Argentina in a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala scores his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Paulo Dybala scores his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Julian Alvarez hoists the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Julian Alvarez hoists the 2024 Copa America trophy after a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Teammates surround Argentina's Paulo Dybala (10) after he scored his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Teammates surround Argentina's Paulo Dybala (10) after he scored his side's third goal against Chile during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Bolivia's Enzo Monteiro celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's Enzo Monteiro celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's coach Oscar Villegas celebrates with Enzo Monteiro after their fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivia's coach Oscar Villegas celebrates with Enzo Monteiro after their fourth goal against Venezuela during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Municipal de Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto, Bolivia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Next Article

Ireland is finally set to get a new government, led by a familiar face

2025-01-22 17:21 Last Updated At:17:30

DUBLIN (AP) — Veteran politician Micheál Martin is set to become Ireland's prime minister for a second time on Wednesday when lawmakers formally approve him as head of a coalition government.

The confirmation comes almost two months after an election in which Martin’s Fianna Fáil party won the most seats, but not enough to govern alone.

After weeks of talks, the long-dominant center-right parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed to form a coalition with the support of several independent lawmakers.

Under the deal, Martin. 64, will be taoiseach, or prime minister, for three years, with Fine Gael’s Simon Harris – the outgoing taoiseach – as his deputy. The two politicians will then swap jobs for the rest of the five-year term.

Members of both parties have ratified the government agreement, and Matin is set to be confirmed by members of the Dáil, parliament’s lower house, on Wednesday. He will then be formally appointed to the job by President Michael D. Higgins before appointing his Cabinet.

In Ireland’s Nov. 29 election, voters bucked a global trend that saw incumbent governments ousted around the world in 2024. Fianna Fail won 48 of the 174 legislative seats and Fine Gael 38. They’ve secured backing to govern from the mostly conservative Regional Independent Group, which will be given two ministerial positions.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil share broadly similar center-right policies but a century-old rivalry stemming from their origins on opposing sides of Ireland’s civil war in the 1920s. They formed an alliance after the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat.

Their new agreement shuts out left-of-center party Sinn Fein, which will stay in opposition despite winning 39 seats. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have refused to work with them because of their historic ties with the Irish Republican Army during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

The new government faces huge pressure to ease rising homelessness, driven by soaring rents and property prices, and to better absorb a growing number of asylum-seekers.

The cost of living — especially Ireland’s acute housing crisis — was a dominant topic in the election campaign, and immigration has become an emotive and challenging issue in a country of 5.4 million people long defined by emigration.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers during the Fianna Fail ard fheis conference at the Radisson Hotel, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers during the Fianna Fail ard fheis conference at the Radisson Hotel, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaks to the media, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaks to the media, in Dublin, Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. (Gareth Chaney/PA via AP)

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