With five matches left, a trio of countries - among them Uruguay - are at the qualifying line, twelve points behind Argentina, who also have one match less played.
- Sometimes you just have to win and we succeeded.
We did not play very well, but it is the points that count, says national team captain Lionel Scaloni.
Undefeated Argentina can be ready for the World Cup on Tuesday night, if there is a victory at home against Brazil and other results go the team's way.
But then the team has to play, an injured Uruguay pressed Argentina in the hunt for a draw and Luis Suárez dotted the post.
Lionel Messi jumped in for Argentina with a quarter left to play.
The star has missed the last two matches with the club team Paris Saint-Germain and the club was not happy when the Argentine left for national team camp.
On the night before Friday, Brazil became the first team from South America to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar next year.