Separated by only a single spot and one point in the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying standings, Paraguay hosts Venezuela this Tuesday at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco. The two teams are not too far from each other as Paraguay aims to be among the top six with a goalless draw against Ecuador, while Venezuela finds itself firmly within the inter-confederation playoff position following a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Argentina.
Match Preview
Paraguay, under head coach Gustavo Alfaro, hasn’t participated in the World Cup since their impressive quarterfinal end in 2010, which remains the country’s best ever finish at the tournament. Although they hold an automatic qualification for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, they would still wish to participate in the 2026 edition. Their current record stands at10 points from nine games. They took a valuable point from a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on October 10.
Paraguay had only 23 per cent possession against Ecuador but remained solid with a tight backline to regain an important clean sheet. Paraguay is now three games unbeaten in World Cup qualifying having taken two positive results in September, a goalless draw against Uruguay, and 1-0 against Brazil.
Venezuela: steady improvement
Venezuela under Fernando Batista has been improving significantly with every game. They managed to secure a historic 1-1 draw against reigning world champions Argentina, thanks to a goal from veteran striker Salomon Rondon, marking his 45th international goal. Despite drawing five of their nine qualifiers, Venezuela’s 11 points currently place them seventh, in the inter-confederation playoff spot. Their resilience is impressive, with just one loss in their last eight qualifying matches, including a 1-0 victory over Paraguay a year ago.
Historically, Paraguay has dominated head-to-head matches, with 19 wins out of 29 encounters. However, Venezuela has narrowed the gap recently, including its first-ever win over Paraguay in 2001.
Team News
For Paraguay, the return of key players Diego Gomez (Inter Miami) and Junior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro) from suspension will bolster their lineup. Alonso may replace Agustin Sandez on the left, while the defensive trio led by Dynamo Moscow’s Fabian Balbuena is expected to remain unchanged. In attack, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Julio Enciso could start on the left, with Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron on the right.
Venezuela will be without midfielder Jose Martinez, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation and also suffered an injury in the Argentina draw. Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo, who replaced Martinez against Argentina, is likely to step into the starting lineup. Salomon Rondon will lead the attack, with veteran captain Tomas Rincon set to earn his 138th cap.
Predicted Lineups
Paraguay: Fernandez; Balbuena, Gomez, Alderete; Caceres, Cubas, Bobadilla, Alonso; Almiron, Arce, Enciso
Venezuela: Romo; Gonzalez, Osorio, Ferraresi, Aramburu; Castillo, Rincon, Herrera; Savarino, Rondon, Soltedo
