Argentina's highly-anticipated 2018 World Cup qualifier against Brazil was postponed on Thursday because of torrential rain and is now scheduled for Friday.

Officials declined to start the match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, ruling the saturated field was unplayable.

Ernesto Cherquis Bialo, the spokesman for the Argentine Football Association, said the same venue would stage the game Friday.

Both South American powers are struggling.

Brazil, the 2014 World Cup host, has only taken three points from its first two qualifiers, while Argentina, the losing finalist last year, has only managed one point and has yet to score a goal.

Brazil will have Barcelona star Neymar back following suspension, while Argentina will be without three injured stars — Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.