Seventh-placed Paraguay will host a struggling Brazil, currently sitting in fourth, as the two teams meet for this crucial CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco.
Paraguay earned a valuable point with a 0-0 draw away against Uruguay on Saturday, snapping a three-match losing streak. This result provided some much-needed relief after their disappointing Copa America campaign, where they were eliminated in the group stage without a single win.
Brazil, on the other hand, started their World Cup qualifying campaign strongly with seven points from their first three games but then suffered a shocking three-match losing streak. Their victory on Saturday broke that slump, lifting them to 10 points, though they remain eight points behind leaders Argentina.
With both teams battling inconsistency this year, this match is a critical opportunity for each to regain their footing.
Paraguay have struggled offensively in recent matches, managing to score just 4 goals in their last six outings, while conceding 11. However, there’s no guarantee that this trend will continue.
In addition to their attacking woes, Paraguay will be without key defender Gustavo Gomez, who is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the goalless draw against Uruguay. Veteran Fabian Balbuena is expected to step in and partner with Getafe’s Omar Alderete in the heart of the defense.
Up front, Isidro Pitta showed promise in his debut and could be a player to watch in the upcoming fixture.
PARAGUAY predicted lineup vs BRAZIL: Fernandez (GK); Velazquez, Balbuena, Alderete, Alonso; Gomez, Villasanti, Bobadilla; Almiron, Enciso, Pitta.
Brazil’s struggles in attack have been evident, scoring one goal or fewer in five of their last six qualifying matches. This issue also surfaced during the Copa America, where they managed to score in only two of their four games.
However, Brazil appears to be regaining form, especially against opponents like Paraguay. While they recently lost to top teams Uruguay and Argentina, including back-to-back defeats to Uruguay in the qualifiers and Copa America, they are showing signs of improvement with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on September 7.
Vinicius Junior remains a key player in Brazil’s attack and could be pivotal in Wednesday’s match. Brazil will be confident, having won four of their last five meetings with Paraguay, including a commanding 4-1 victory in the 2024 Copa America.
Additionally, Brazil has won their last three World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay without conceding, including a 2-0 away win in June 2021.
BRAZIL predicted lineup vs PARAGUAY: Alisson (GK); Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Arana; Andre, Guimaraes, Paqueta; Henrique, Vinicius, Rodrygo.
As you might have guessed, Brazil holds the upper hand heading into this match.
Looking at past results between these two teams since 2016, Brazil has dominated with 15 goals compared to Paraguay’s 3, with an average of 3 goals per game across their encounters. Despite playing away from home, this is a match Brazil should comfortably win. While it may not be a repeat of their 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay in the 2024 Copa America, a victory by 2 or 3 goals seems likely for the visitors, with Paraguay likely managing 0 or maybe 1 goal.
Paraguay’s form has been poor, with just 1 win in their last 10 competitive games, alongside 6 losses and 3 draws. They’ve also struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in 6 of their last 7 matches, and losing 12 of their past 20.
Brazil, on the other hand, has had a somewhat rocky patch, with 3 wins, 4 defeats, and 3 draws in their last 10 games.
However, their offensive firepower remains dangerous, led by Vinicius Junior with 2 goals, and contributions from Rodrygo, Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta, and Savinho. Brazil has managed to score 2 or more goals in half of their last 10 away matches, which should be enough to take advantage of Paraguay’s defensive frailties.
All signs point that this will be Brazil's match.
