Argentina's youth national team started its 2026 South American Games campaign with a defeat, losing 2-1 to Paraguay in a Group B match played at Newell's Old Boys' stadium. Diego Placente's side went into halftime with a lead thanks to a goal from Franco Domínguez, but two Paraguayan strikes in the second half turned the score around.
The Estudiantes de La Plata midfielder, Franco Domínguez, had opened the scoring for Argentina in the 41st minute of the first half. However, Paraguay's response after the break was decisive. Junior Gamarra leveled the match 14 minutes into the second half and Pedro Sarza completed the comeback just seven minutes later, in the 21st minute. Argentina, which tops FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 1 with 9 points from three games, failed to react after conceding the second goal.
Pressure on Uruguay clash
The loss leaves the young Albiceleste in a difficult position in a group that also includes Venezuela and Uruguay. With only three matches in the group stage and the top two advancing to the semifinals, the margin for error is slim. The next fixture, against Uruguay on Friday at 15:00 at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, becomes an early final. A win is essential to avoid depending on other results on the final matchday.
Placente fielded a squad with players claiming experience in the Argentine Primera División for this opener. Captain Matías Satas, a Boca Juniors defender who recently made his top-flight debut, was a key piece in the backline. In attack, Facundo Jainikoski of Argentinos Juniors, with over 20 top-flight appearances, searched unsuccessfully for a goal. The team showed solidity in the first half in front of a good crowd in Rosario, but Paraguayan efficiency in the second period proved decisive. The full squad and the senior team's schedule, which arrives with a record of four wins and one loss in its last five matches, can be found on our squad and fixtures pages.
The match against Uruguay, scheduled for Friday, will define the team's future in the competition.
The original report is at Clarin Deportes
