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Argentina possible starting lineup: E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Lo Celso, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
Paraguay possible starting lineup: R Fernandez; Caceres, G Gomez, Alderete, Balbuena, Alonso; Cubas, D Gomez; Almiron, Sanabria, Enciso
Match Preview
Argentina, current leaders in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay on Thursday night. With Lionel Scaloni’s side closing in on securing a spot for the 2026 tournament, the reigning world champions are set to defend their title on North American soil.
Match Preview
Argentina’s latest qualifying run has been impressive, with a commanding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in October keeping them three points ahead of Colombia. In that match, Lionel Messi delivered a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick and providing two assists, propelling Argentina to 22 points. With the mid-20s typically enough to guarantee a top-six finish, Argentina is nearly assured of a place in the finals.
Scaloni’s squad aims to maintain their form to secure the top position in the standings, something they haven’t achieved in the past two qualifying cycles. While most CONMEBOL teams struggle on the road, Argentina has amassed 10 points from five away games—four more than any other team. However, their away form has recently wavered, with a loss to Colombia in September and a draw against Venezuela in October.
Paraguay will not be an easy opponent, as they were the last team to prevent Argentina from scoring in an away qualifier, back in 2021. Recent encounters between these two nations have been low-scoring affairs, with just seven goals across the last seven matches, and the past two meetings in Paraguay ending goalless.
Paraguay's approach, especially under manager Gustavo Alfaro, has focused on defensive solidity, and their record of four goals scored and four conceded over 10 games reflects their disciplined style. Despite the cautious approach, Alfaro’s management has proven effective, lifting Paraguay into the automatic qualifying positions with eight points from their last four matches. Wins at home, combined with away draws, have positioned Paraguay as strong contenders for their first World Cup berth since 2010.
Form Guide:
- Paraguay – World Cup Qualifying: DLDWDW
- Argentina – World Cup Qualifying: LWWLDW
Team News
Paraguay's squad remains similar to October's selection, with seven players based in Argentina, aiding their preparation for this matchup. However, there are concerns over limited game time for several of their attackers. While Antonio Sanabria has regained his place at Torino after scoring twice against Venezuela, Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso, and Ramon Sosa have seen limited minutes in the Premier League.
For Argentina, midfielder Enzo Fernandez has also experienced reduced playing time at Chelsea but is expected to start given his importance to the team. Giovani Lo Celso has recovered from an October injury and could play, especially as Scaloni may favor him over Lautaro Martinez in this away game. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will return after serving a two-match suspension, replacing Geronimo Rulli in goal.