The clash between Argentina’s men’s national football team and its Uruguayan counterpart is reportedly set to be played at the La Bombonera stadium on November 16. The game is part of the fifth fixture of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, but the hosting ground was in doubt. According to news outlet Télam, the home stadium of Boca Juniors has now been confirmed.

The game was initially supposed to take place at River Plate’s Más Monumental home stadium, where Argentina’s national team has played its two South American qualifier home games in 2023. However, the state of the pitch was in question for this third match, as the stadium is set to host a number of music concerts in the coming weeks, including Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated visit to Argentina.

The first alternative was the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba, in line with the push the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) and the national government are making for the men’s national team to play outside of Buenos Aires. However, the players and the coaching staff preferred that the game be held in the country’s capital in order to save the team an additional trip, given that the sixth fixture will be played away in Brazil.

According to news outlet Télam, the final decision is to host the game in La Bombonera, and AFA has communicated as much to the Uruguayan Football Federation (AUF). 

Since La Bombonera’s inauguration in 1940, Argentina’s men’s national football team has played there 33 times. It remains undefeated over the ten South American Qualifier matches held in the stadium, with six wins and four draws.

The clash between Argentina and Uruguay will be the first time the two meet in an official game at La Bombonera. The two previous encounters (a 2-2 tie in 1956 and a 3-0 Albiceleste win in 1978) were friendly matches. According to the AFA’s own tally, Argentina has played 192 matches against Uruguay, leading comfortably with 88 wins, 58 losses, and 46 draws.