Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
Paraguay, especially on home soil, have proven to be an organised team capable of troubling the favourites, as seen in their match against Brazil (1:0). In this home fixture against the reigning World Cup champions, they will aim to at least avoid defeat by bolstering their defensive setup. For Argentina, who lead the group, this match is an opportunity to maintain their distance from the opponents, particularly with Colombia closely behind. They have shown formidable results at home but encounter difficulties on the road, making this encounter particularly critical.
Paraguay
Paraguay, under Gustavo Alfaro, have displayed strong performances, especially in home games, where they have lost only once in five matches and scored all four of their tournament goals. Antonio Sanabria remains a pivotal figure in attack, having scored three times in the qualifiers. The team's primary focus is on defence, which has been stable, conceding just four goals in the current qualifying cycle over ten matches.
Argentina
Argentina continue to lead the qualifying group but faced challenges in their last two away games (one draw and one defeat). Lionel Messi continues to spearhead the team, yet his physical fitness is under scrutiny following his recent playoff elimination from the MLS. Notably, Argentina have faced difficulties in their last five encounters with Paraguay, securing only one win and collectively scoring just five goals in those matches.
Paraguay vs Argentina Prediction
Playing at home, Paraguay are likely to concentrate on defence and aim for a draw. Both teams have shown a cautious approach in recent meetings, and considering their latest low-scoring matches, we expect this game to be similarly restrained.
