Argentina’s national teams continue to enjoy a golden era in football. Following their 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni’s senior squad has maintained a remarkable run, and the momentum appears to have filtered down to the youth level as well. The Argentine Under-17 side began the tournament with high expectations, impressing during the group stage, only to face heartbreak in the knockout round. On Friday, they were eliminated by Mexico after a dramatic 4–2 defeat in a penalty shootout. The match had ended 2–2 after 90 minutes of fiercely contested football.
Argentina had taken the lead early in the game through a goal by Ramiro Tulian, raising hopes of a comfortable progression. Yet Mexico responded resiliently, with Luis Gamboa scoring twice to seize control. Despite a late equaliser from Fernando Kloster, the tie proceeded to penalties, where Mexico ultimately emerged victorious. Argentina now exit the tournament, while Mexico will face Portugal in the last sixteen.
Elsewhere on the same night, Brazil’s Under-17 side produced a remarkable display of grit against Paraguay. Facing an early setback when Vitor Hugo received a direct red card in the eighth minute, Brazil played the remainder of the match with ten men. Despite this numerical disadvantage, they successfully contained Paraguay, forcing a goalless draw in regulation time. The tie was eventually decided on penalties, with Brazil triumphing 5–4 to secure their spot in the last sixteen. The Brazilians, coached by Philippe Leal, will now prepare for a challenging quarter-final clash against France on 18 November. The contrasting fortunes of Argentina and Brazil underline the unpredictability and drama of youth football at the highest level.
