World Cup qualifiers don’t get much better than Brazil vs. Argentina. That is, when they can actually play.

The two South American heavyweights — currently No. 1 and No. 2 in the qualifying standings — were set to meet for the first time during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday in Sao Paulo, but officials from Brazil’s Anvisa health authority interrupted the match in the 10th minute to demand the four Argentine players who traveled from the United Kingdom are deported for being in violation of the country’s health regulations.

According to Argentina’s official Twitter account the match has been suspended: 

Reports indicated that the four players in question — Emiliano Martinez, Emiliano Buendia, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso — were supposed to complete a 14-day quarantine after traveling from the United Kingdom per Brazilian regulations. It’s unclear why the issue wasn’t resolved prior to the teams taking the field.

Other reports state that the players lied about traveling from the United Kingdom. The players traveled with Argentina to Venezuela on Thursday and Martinez and Lo Celso played in a 3-1 win over Venezuela. The team traveled from Venezuela to Brazil and have been in the country for the last three days.

The match was highly anticipated as a rematch of the Copa America final that was played on July 10. Argentina won that game 1-0 at Brazil’s Maracana Stadium as Messi won his first-ever major title with Argentina’s senior national team.

Both teams are set to play matches on Thursday: Argentina hosts Bolivia and Brazil welcomes Peru.

Sporting News is following the developments as they happen and will be providing updates and commentary until there’s official word on what happens next.

Brazil vs. Argentina suspended

Goals:

Brazil vs. Argentina updates and highlights

(All times ET)

3:58 p.m.: And now the official word from the South American governing body CONMEBOL. The statement says it’s a decision by the referee. It’s an interesting choice of language because there could be repercussions for a government authority invading the field and interrupting an official match.

3:52 p.m.: Brazil’s players still haven’t left the field. Meanwhile, Argentina’s bus is apparently warming up:

3:34 p.m.: According to Argentina’s official national team account, the match has been suspended:

3:32 p.m.: Outside of the obvious, the biggest question at this point is why the players were allowed to take the field to begin with. The officials had ample time to resolve the situation:

3:31 p.m.: Of course, that bib that Messi is wearing is a photo bib:

3:24 p.m.: This reporter claims that Argentina ambassadors in Brazil are stepping in to help resolve the situation:

3:23 p.m.: Cameras are capturing Messi talking to Dani Alves and Messi is already in a bib. He took off his jersey. And now he’s on the field talking to Neymar and Brazil coach Tite:

3:21 p.m.: The Brazilian players still haven’t left the field. The health officials are not seen on the field and it seems like the conversation has progressed into the lockers.

3:19 p.m.: The rules in Brazil require that travelers from the UK need to quarantine. There are reports that the four players lied about traveling from the UK (they traveled from the UK to Venezuela, where Argentina played on Thursday).

3:18 p.m.: How will this get resolved? Argentine media claim that the team will not be playing unless all the players are permitted to play.

3:15 p.m.: The players in question are Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa), Cristian Romero (Tottenham) and Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham). Three of the four players are in today’s starting lineup.

10th min.: And now Argentina is leaving the field. Crazy scenes.

8th min.: Plenty of discussions happening at the sidelines and Lionel Messi is now involved.

6th min.: And the cameras turn to the sidelines where Brazilian officials look to be intervening. There were reports that health officials were seeking to force Argentina’s four England-based players to leave the match after they didn’t comply with mandatory 14-day quarantine rules for travelers from the UK. The word was that the issue was resolved, but apparently not.

4th min.: And now it’s Argentina’s Cristian Romero with a tough tackle on Eder Militao that sends the player flying. And Neymar is not happy. Sparks are already flying.

1st min.: We’re off and we already have a player getting a talking to from the referee in the first minute!

2:58 p.m.: Time for anthems:

2:57 p.m.: This rivalry is way too friendly when it comes to the two biggest stars:

2:57 p.m.: It’s been eight straight games that Brazil hasn’t given up a goal at home during qualifying:

2:43 p.m.: Messi’s already feeling it during warmups:

How to watch: Brazil vs. Argentina

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 5
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Stream: fuboTV

The match will be available exclusively on fuboTV .

The qualifier will be held at the Arena Corinthians, also known as the Neo Química Arena, in Sao Paulo. After the match was originally greenlighted for 12,000 fans (25 percent capacity), the short turnaround to sell tickets and verify tests forced organizers to cancel ticket sales and limit attendance to just 1,500 guests.

MORE: CONMEBOL schedule & standings

Brazil vs. Argentina: Starting lineups

Brazil starting center back Marquinhos will be out due to suspension after picking up his second yellow card against Chile. His replacement at center back will be Benfica’s Lucas Verissimo , who will be making his debut.

Tite is also opting to bring in Everton Ribeiro in place of Vinicius Jr. , whose speed could make for a solid attacking option off the bench. Gerson , who subbed in for Bruno Guimaraes against Chile, starts alongside Casemiro in central midfield. 

Brazil starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right):  12-Weverton-GK — 6-Alex Sandro, 22-Lucas Verissimo, 3-Eder Militao, 2-Danilo — 18-Gerson, 5-Casemiro — 17-Lucas Paqueta, 10-Neymar, 11-Everton Ribeiro — 9-Gabriel Barbosa

Brazil subs (12):  23-Everson-GK, 1-Santos-GK, 13-Dani Alves, 16-Guilherme Arana, 14-Miranda, 4-Leo Ortiz, 15-Edenilson, 8-Bruno Guimaraes, 21-Artur, 19-Matheus Cunha, 20-Hulk, 7-Vinícius Jr

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni gets Cristian “Cuti” Romero and Leandro Paredes back from suspension, and they’re both slotted into the starting lineup. He’s also giving Gonzalo Montiel the start over right back Nahuel Molina .

Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 23-Emiliano Martinez — 8-Marcos Acuna, 13-Cristian Romero, 19-Nicolas Otamendi, 4-Gonzalo Montiel — 7-Rodrigo De Paul, 5-Leandro Paredes, 20-Giovani Lo Celso — 10-Lionel Messi, 22-Lautaro Martínez, 11-Angel Di Maria

Argentina subs (12): 12-Juan Musso-GK, 1-Geronimo Rulli-GK, 2-Juan Foyth, 3-Nicolas Tagliafico, 6-German Pezzella, 18-Guido Rodriguez, 14-Exequiel Palacios, 21-Paulo Dybala, 9-Angel Correa, 16-Joaquin Correa, 15-Nicolas Gonzalez, 17-Alejandro “Papu” Gomez