Paraguay face Australia at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in the early hours of Friday morning, needing a win to guarantee second place in Group D.
A draw sends Australia through on the head-to-head tiebreaker, leaving Gustavo Alfaro’s side dependent on the third-place rankings. That is a risk Los Guaraní cannot afford to take. They must attack — a significant ask against an organised Socceroos side, and made harder by the suspension of their most creative player.
Paraguay team news
The loss of Miguel Almirón to suspension is the central selection issue Alfaro must solve. The Newcastle United forward is the squad’s top scorer with 10 international goals and the primary creative force in transitional play.
His red card against Turkey — the first in World Cup history for covering a player’s mouth during a confrontation — means Alfaro must reshape his right side. Gustavo Velazquez is the most likely midfield replacement, operating in a slightly more advanced role than he typically occupies.
Brazilian-born Mauricio, who came off the bench to score in the 4–1 opening loss to the USA, could push for a wider attacking berth. Ramon Sosa, another winger, has been managing an ankle problem and sat out the Turkey win — his involvement here remains to be confirmed.
Diego Gomez recovered from a knock sustained in the Turkey match and is expected to be available, providing Alfaro with midfield continuity. The defensive unit of Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez, Alderete and Alonso is unchanged, with Orlando Gill in goal.
Paraguay predicted lineup
Paraguay possible starting XI (4-4-2): Gill; Cáceres, G. Gómez, Alderete, Alonso; Velazquez, Cubas, D. Gómez, Galarza; Pitta, Enciso
When will the match kick off?
The FIFA World Cup group match kicks off at 03:00 BST on Friday, 26 June 2026.
How to watch Paraguay vs Australia?
The match will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.
Read more – World Cup Day 14: Brazil beat Scotland, South Africa make history
See Also- Iconic Performances: Fabio ‘The Berlin Wall’ Cannavaro in the 2006 World Cup semi-final
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