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Paraguay national football team
World Cup Qualifying - South America | Group Stage
Sep 11, 2024 at 1.30am UK
Estadio Defensores del Chaco
Brazil national football team

Paraguay
1 - 0
Brazil

Gomez (20')
Bobadilla (45'), Gomez (45'), Alonso (70'), Almiron (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Paqueta (45+5'), Junior (90+3')

Preview: Paraguay vs. Brazil - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's World Cup Qualifying - South America clash between Paraguay and Brazil, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Brazil will attempt to record a second straight victory when they travel to Asuncion for Tuesday's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

The Selecao are sitting in fourth spot with 10 points to their name, while the hosts are four points further back in seventh position.


Match preview

Gustavo Alfaro head coach of Costa Rica during the game between Costa Rica and Paraguay as part of the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 group D, at Q2 Stadium, on July 02, 2024© Imago

Paraguay have entered the current international period with a new manager after Daniel Garnero was dismissed following a disappointing 2024 Copa America campaign.

La Albirroja fell to defeats against Colombia, Brazil and Costa Rica as they suffered their first group-stage exit since 2016.

After beating Paraguay at the Copa America, Gustavo Alfaro left his role as Costa Rica boss to become the new head coach of La Albirroja.

Alfaro began his tenure with a goalless draw in Friday's away clash with Uruguay, with the result taking their total tally to six points, leaving them in the inter-confederation playoff spot and two points adrift of the automatic qualifying places.

Having won just one of their seven 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay know that they will have their work cut out to beat Brazil in regulation time since recording a 2-0 home victory in June 2008.

The hosts have experienced mixed results in their three home games in the current qualifying cycle, having drawn with Peru, beaten Bolivia and lost to Colombia.

Brazil's Rodrygo celebrates after scoring on September 6, 2024© Imago

Brazil may have beaten Paraguay at the 2024 Copa America, but that ultimately proved to be their only win in a disappointing tournament.

The Selecao drew their other two group games and lost on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-final, resulting in their worst Copa America performance since suffering a group-stage exit in 2016.

Dorival Junior's side returned to competitive action in Friday's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, with Rodrygo's first-half effort proving enough to fire his country to a narrow 1-0 victory, ending Brazil's four-game winless run in qualifying.

After experiencing success in his first World Cup qualifier, Dorival has now overseen four wins and five draws since taking over the reins at the beginning of this year.

Brazil will fancy their chances of claiming a second straight win in Tuesday's contest, having won four of their last five meetings with Paraguay in regulation time, including a dominant 4-1 win in the 2024 Copa America group stage.

The Selecao can also take confidence from the fact that they have won their last three World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay without conceding - a run of results which includes a 2-0 away win in June 2021.

Paraguay World Cup Qualifying - South America form:


Paraguay form (all competitions):


Brazil World Cup Qualifying - South America form:


Brazil form (all competitions):



Team News

Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates with Rodrygo after scoring on June 29, 2024© Imago

Paraguay defender Gustavo Gomez will serve a one-match suspension after receiving his second yellow card for qualifying in the goalless draw against Uruguay.

The experienced Fabian Balbuena is poised to replace Gomez and operate in central defence alongside Getafe defender Omar Alderete.

Midfielder Mathias Villasanti is pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench to play over half hour in Friday's outing.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao, who sustained an injury in the lead-up to the win over Ecuador.

Borussia Dortmund's Yan Couto, Manchester City's Savinho and Flamengo's Pedro have all been forced to pull out of the squad due to their respective injury issues.

Dorival could be tempted to select the same side that started against Ecuador which would see Luiz Henrique make a second straight start.

The Botafogo attacker is set to operate in attack alongside the Real Madrid duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, but their club teammate Endrick may have to settle for a place on the bench.


Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Velazquez, Balbuena, Alderete, Alonso; Gomez, Villasanti, Bobadilla; Almiron, Enciso, Pitta

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Arana; Andre, Guimaraes, Paqueta; Henrique, Vinicius, Rodrygo


SM words green background

We say: Paraguay 0-2 Brazil

Brazil have been frustrated by a number of draws in Dorival's short time in charge, but we do not expect that to be an issue in Tuesday's contest because we believe that the visitors will showcase their extra quality to claim all three points.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Paraguay vs Brazil

Paraguay
11.3%
Draw
13.7%
Brazil
75.0%
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CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1071222
2 Colombia Colombia1054119
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay1044216
4 Ecuador flag Ecuador1044216
5 Brazil Brazil1051416
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1034313
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1040612
8 Venezuela Venezuela1025311
9 Peru flag Peru101366
10 Chile Chile101275

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1071222
2 Colombia Colombia1054119
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay1044216
4 Ecuador flag Ecuador1044216
5 Brazil Brazil1051416
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1034313
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1040612
8 Venezuela Venezuela1025311
9 Peru flag Peru101366
10 Chile Chile101275


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