Paraguay Aims for World Cup Comeback Against Ecuador After 16 Years

Paraguay will face Ecuador on Thursday, September 4, at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, with a chance to qualify for the World Cup. According to AP, Paraguay has not been at a World Cup since 2010 and needs just a draw in this CONMEBOL qualifier to secure a spot for the 2026 event.

Under coach Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay is currently in fifth place with 24 points and has made Asunción a tough venue, having lost only once at home. However, the team is facing injury issues. Rising player Julio Enciso is out after knee surgery, and defenders Fabián Balbuena, midfielder Mathias Villasanti, and forward Isidro Pitta are also unavailable. Ángel Romero is likely to join Antonio Sanabria in the attack.

Ecuador arrives in Asunción already qualified, sitting second with 25 points under coach Sebastián Beccacece. The team has the best defense in South America but struggles to find the net, having drawn its last three matches. Beccacece acknowledged the difficulty of the task, especially since Ecuador has never earned a point in Paraguay during World Cup qualifying.

With qualification assured, the coach plans to experiment with new players. Young talents Kendry Páez and Denil Castillo are expected to play alongside established stars like Moisés Caicedo and all-time leading scorer Enner Valencia. This match takes place during an important round of qualifiers that also includes Colombia vs. Bolivia, Argentina vs. Venezuela, and Uruguay vs. Peru, all contributing to the final line-up for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Probable lineups:
– Paraguay: Roberto Junior Fernández; Juan Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso; Diego Gómez, Andrés Cubas, Matías Galarza, Miguel Almirón; Ángel Romero, Antonio Sanabria. Coach: Gustavo Alfaro.
– Ecuador: Hernán Galíndez; Pervis Estupiñán, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, Joel Ordóñez; Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Vite, Denil Castillo; Nilson Angulo, Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata. Coach: Sebastián Beccacece.