A thrilling evening awaits in Asunción as the Paraguay National football Team, the Albirroja faces Chile in an exciting World Cup qualifier at Estadio Defensores del Chaco this Thursday, kicking off at 8:00 PM! With Paraguay battling to secure their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Chile desperate for points, the match promises fireworks.
Currently Paraguay sits in 6th place in the CONMEBOL standings. This position places the Albirroja in the last of the six automatic qualification spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making a win against Chile vital with only 6 of 18 matchdays remaining. Qualifying for the 2026 tournament, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, would mark Paraguay’s first World Cup appearance since their succesful 2010 campaign in South Africa.
For Chile, struggling in 9th place on the 10-team table, it is a must-win to keep their hopes alive for at least the 7th-place inter-confederation playoff spot. Earlier this campaign however, Paraguay was not able to secure a win in Chile (0-0 in Santiago), and a friendly between both teams in June 2024 ended in a dramatic 3-0 loss for Paraguay. La Albirroja has been warned!
Albirroja Captain Sidelined
Gustavo Gómez’s absence will leave a void for the Albirroja in Estadio Defensores del Chaco this Thursday. The team captain and Palmeiras defensive anchor is sidelined with a ligament injury in his right knee, while Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gómez is also unavailable, suspended after receiving a red card in Paraguay’s previous qualifier against Bolivia. That match back in November 2024 ended in a 2-2 draw due to a stunning last-minute equalizer from Ipswich Town’s Julio Enciso.
Leading Scorer In Doubt
The participation of Paraguay’s World Cup qualifying leading scorer, Antonio Sanabria, remains uncertain due to an injury. The Torino attacker missed recent Serie A matches against Parma and Empoli and a final decision for his participation in the game on Thursday will depend on the results of tests close to match day. His presence is vital for the Albirroja, who, in a rare drought, have been unable to find the net in four of their last five matches against Chile. Defender Omar Alderete, “The Wall of Asunción” just arrived in the city from Spain for this week’s game. For goals, Paraguay will turn to forward Miguel Almirón, who recently returned to his former club Atlanta United after completing a transfer from Newcastle United.
To prepare you for the game, you can listen the Himno Nacional Paraguayo on YouTube. The video does include the lyrics.
