The latest Argentina vs Bolivia meeting delivered another dominant performance from the Argentina national football team. Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba on September 30, 2026, in an international friendly during the FIFA window.
The match attracted particular attention because it marked Argentina’s first game since the 2026 FIFA World Cup and came without Lionel Messi. Despite his absence, Lionel Scaloni’s side produced an impressive attacking display, with Lautaro Martínez, Nicolás Paz, Cristian Romero, and José Manuel López getting on the scoresheet.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Match Result
Argentina 4-0 Bolivia
The Argentina game was played at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, with Colombian referee Jhon Ospina in charge.
Argentina controlled much of the contest and finished with four goals. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring, Nicolás Paz doubled the advantage before halftime, Cristian Romero added a third after the break, and José Manuel López completed the score late in the match.
Argentina vs Bolivia Goals
- 19′ — Lautaro Martínez: Argentina took the lead after Alexis Mac Allister provided the assist.
- 29′ — Nicolás Paz: Paz doubled Argentina’s advantage following a pass from Exequiel Palacios.
- 54′ — Cristian Romero: The defender headed home from a Nicolás Paz delivery.
- 86′ — José Manuel López: The substitute completed the 4-0 victory and scored his first goal for the national team.
The result continued Argentina’s strong record against Bolivia in recent competitive meetings. In the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, Argentina had also defeated Bolivia 6-0 in Buenos Aires in October 2024, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick.
Argentina National Football Team vs Bolivia National Football Team Lineups
The confirmed starting lineups showed Argentina using a strong combination of established international players and younger talent.
Argentina Starting XI
Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Román Vega; Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister; Nicolás Paz, Gianluca Prestianni; Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez.
Head coach: Lionel Scaloni
The lineup included several players who were part of Argentina’s recent international cycle, while Nicolás Paz received an important opportunity in an attacking midfield role. The Argentine Football Association confirmed the starting XI before the match.
Bolivia Starting XI
Guillermo Viscarra; Diego Arroyo, Efraín Morales, Héctor Cuéllar; Miguel Terceros, Ramiro Vaca, Robson Tomé de Araújo; Roberto Fernández, Jesús Maraude, Yomar Rocha, Marcelo Torrez.
Head coach: Óscar Villegas.
The Bolivia national team entered the match looking to test itself against the reigning South American powerhouse. Bolivia had previously secured seventh place in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings for the 2026 World Cup and subsequently entered the intercontinental playoff route.
Nicolás Paz Emerges as a Player to Watch
One of the biggest talking points from Argentina vs. Bolivia was the performance of Nicolás Paz.
The 22-year-old midfielder scored Argentina’s second goal and later assisted Cristian Romero for the third. His goal was particularly notable because he calmly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra after finding himself in a promising position.
Paz’s performance adds another interesting storyline to the next phase of the Argentina national football team. Argentina has an established core of experienced players, but the development of younger footballers will be important as the national side moves into its next international cycle.
His performance against Bolivia was also significant because it came without Messi on the field. Rather than relying on one individual, Argentina created several attacking combinations through its midfield and forward line.
How Argentina Controlled the Game
Argentina established control early through possession and quick combinations in midfield.
The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute. Alexis Mac Allister supplied the pass, allowing Lautaro Martínez to finish accurately and put Argentina ahead.
Only around ten minutes later, Paz extended the lead. Argentina continued to control the tempo, while Bolivia struggled to create consistent opportunities in the final third.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Paz remained influential and helped create the third goal, which Cristian Romero headed into the net in the 54th minute.
Argentina continued to generate opportunities before José Manuel López scored the fourth goal in the 86th minute. The Palmeiras forward reacted quickly inside the penalty area and recorded his first goal for the national team.
Argentina vs Bolivia Match Statistics
The final numbers underline Argentina’s control of the game.
According to match data reported by AS, Argentina finished with approximately 68.6% possession, compared with 31.4% for Bolivia. Argentina also recorded 13 shots to Bolivia’s two.
These numbers help explain the 4-0 scoreline. Argentina was not simply more clinical in front of goal; it also spent considerably more time controlling possession and creating attacking situations.
For Bolivia, the limited number of shots shows how difficult it was to consistently threaten Argentina’s defense.
Where to Watch Argentina National Football Team vs Bolivia National Football Team
For viewers searching for where to watch Argentina national football team vs Bolivia national football team, broadcasters varied by location.
In Argentina, the match was available through Telefe and TyC Sports, with streaming options including Mi Telefe and TyC Sports Play. TyC Sports also provided online coverage through its streaming platform.
Because broadcasting rights differ between countries, international viewers should check the official broadcaster listings available in their region rather than relying on unofficial streams.
Since the Argentina vs Bolivia match has already concluded, fans looking for the full game can also check official broadcaster platforms and authorized football highlights services for available replay or highlight coverage.
What the Argentina vs. Bolivia Result Means
The 4-0 result was more than another friendly victory. It gave Scaloni an opportunity to evaluate Argentina’s squad after the 2026 World Cup and to introduce younger players into important international roles.
Argentina had already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the South American qualifying campaign, becoming the first CONMEBOL team to mathematically secure its place in the tournament.
The Bolivia match therefore represented part of a broader transition period rather than a qualification fixture.
The absence of Messi also naturally attracted attention. However, the match showed that Argentina could create goals through different combinations. Lautaro Martínez provided the early breakthrough, Paz became a major attacking influence, Romero contributed from defense, and López made an impact after entering the game.
Argentina’s Next International Matches
The Argentina national football team has another important FIFA window ahead.
Following the Bolivia match, Argentina’s schedule includes friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin. The latter is expected to be especially significant because Lionel Messi is scheduled to participate in what has been described as his farewell match for the national team.
That makes the Argentina vs Bolivia match an important early chapter in a changing period for the national side.
Final Thoughts on Argentina vs Bolivia
Argentina vs Bolivia ended with a convincing 4-0 victory for Argentina at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium.
Lautaro Martínez started the scoring, Nicolás Paz produced one of the night’s standout performances with a goal and an assist, Cristian Romero added another, and José Manuel López completed the scoring late in the second half.
For Argentina, the match provided an opportunity to assess its squad beyond its most famous players. For Bolivia, it was a challenging test against one of South America’s leading international teams.
As Argentina moves forward, attention will remain on how Scaloni balances established stars with emerging talents. Players such as Nicolás Paz and José Manuel López showed why Argentina’s next generation will be closely watched during the team’s upcoming international fixtures.