Uruguay vs Paraguay

Estadio Centenario is the venue as Uruguay and Paraguay go head-to-head in an exciting 2026 World Cup qualifying showdown.

Uruguay’s quest to secure a fifth consecutive World Cup appearance continues in a buoyant mood after Marcelo Bielsa’s side clinched a third-place finish at the 2024 Copa America in July. Luis Suarez, who scored a last-gasp equalizer off the bench against Canada in a third-place playoff tie, gears up for his 143rd and final international appearance. With Darwin Nunez picking up a five-match suspension for his antics in the Copa America semi-finals, La Celeste will turn to their all-time top scorer to lead the country’s pursuit of a fifth win in seven matches in the ongoing qualifying campaign (W4, D1, L1). Only world champions Argentina commence this round above Uruguay in the CONMEBOL qualifying group, with the hosts heading into proceedings on a three-match winning streak in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

On the other hand, Paraguay’s see-sawing start to the new qualifying campaign (W2, D1, L3) puts them in seventh ahead of this round, meaning a place in the inter-confederation playoffs currently belongs to them. However, Los Guaranies stuttered at the 2024 Copa America, losing all three group-stage fixtures ‘to one.’ It was the first time since 1925 that Paraguay failed to take a single point on the grandest continental platform, resulting in the immediate dismissal of head coach Daniel Garnero. His successor, Gustavo Alfaro, must pick up the slack and bring the Paraguayans’ faltering bid to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2010. He couldn’t have hoped for a sterner test on his touchline debut, considering Paraguay’s last win against Uruguay dates back to 2007.