Argentina’s under-17 national team secured a place in the final of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-17 with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador in the semifinal match held on April 16, 2026, at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Paraguay.
The Albiceleste took an early lead when Facundo Salinas, a product of Vélez Sarsfield’s youth academy, headed home the opening goal within the first ten minutes of play. His strike set the tone for Argentina’s performance in the high-stakes encounter.
Ecuador responded in the second half through Holger Quintero, who converted a penalty kick to level the score and momentarily reignite hopes for a comeback. The goal came after a handball incident in the box that prompted the referee to point to the spot.
However, Argentina regained the lead shortly after Quintero’s equalizer when Juan Policella, likewise from Vélez Sarsfield, found the net to restore Argentina’s advantage. Policella’s goal came shortly after his introduction as a substitute, highlighting the impact of Diego Placente’s bench options.
The decisive third goal arrived in the dying moments of the match when Emiliano Barrionuevo of Boca Juniors capitalized on a Policella assist to seal the victory. Barrionuevo’s finish came amid sustained pressure from Argentina as they sought to confirm their place in the final.
The result confirmed Argentina as the first finalist, setting up a showdown with Colombia, who had earlier defeated Brazil 3-0 in the other semifinal. Brazil, which had dominated Group A with 13 goals scored and only one conceded, saw its unbeaten run end at the hands of Colombia.
Ecuador, which had topped Group C during the group stage, also saw its unbeaten tournament record arrive to an end against Argentina. Both teams had entered the semifinal without a loss, making the result particularly significant.
Argentina’s path to the semifinal included a win over Ecuador and Venezuela in the group stage, a draw with Bolivia, and a loss to Brazil. Despite the defeat to Brazil, Argentina finished second in its group to advance to the knockout rounds.
The victory also confirmed Argentina’s qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, as reaching the semifinal guaranteed one of the four CONMEBOL spots available for the global tournament.
Other teams securing World Cup qualification on the same day included Uruguay, which eliminated Venezuela, and Chile, which defeated Bolivia. Those two nations will contest a fifth-place playoff, while Venezuela and Bolivia will play for seventh place and the final World Cup berth.
The final between Argentina and Colombia is scheduled for April 20, 2026, also at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. Local time. A third-place match between Ecuador and Brazil will precede the final.
Diego Placente’s side will look to capture the continental title after navigating a challenging semifinal test. The victory over Ecuador demonstrated resilience after surrendering the lead and showcased the depth available to the Argentine coach.
For ongoing coverage and updates on the Sudamericano Sub-17 tournament, fans can follow official CONMEBOL channels and accredited sports media outlets providing live updates from Paraguay.
Stay tuned to Archysport for comprehensive coverage of the final and all developments from the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-17 tournament.
