Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
After sharing the spoils with Ecuador in their last qualifying match, Brazil will look to retain top position in the standings when they take on Paraguay at Mineirao on Tuesday morning. The Selecao will be without suspended defender Emerson Royal against La Albirroja, while both Fabinho and Paqueta return to contention. Neymar remains on the sidelines with injury, while Ajax ace Antony is pushing for a start.
Paraguay, on the other hand, suffered yet another heart-breaking defeat in the 2022 WC qualifiers, with the team losing to Uruguay in front of home fans. Paraguay are not regarded as good travelers, and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Brazil’s party at Mineirao. All Andres Cubas, Celso Ortiz, Roberto Fernandez, and Omar Alderete are out of contention with injuries for the visiting side. In their last meeting in the World Cup qualifiers Brazil defeated Paraguay 2-0.
Highlighted Player (Neymar):
Neymar is a Brazilian football superstar who plays for PSG as a winger. The pacey footballer, who is capable of playing as a centre forward as well, is well known his creativity, passing and finishing. Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes on 5 February, 1992 and he began his senior career at Santos. After scoring 54 goals in 103 appearances for the Brazilian outfit, he joined Barcelona in 2013.
The Brazilian ace signed a five-year deal with the Catalan outfit and he has been playing for the La Liga giants ever since. Neymar the 2014/2015 Champions League trophy with Barcelona and that is considered his biggest success. It has to be noted that he clinched the FIFA Club World Cup trophy with Barca as well.
Speaking of his international career, the Barcelona star made his Brazil debut on 10 August, 2010 against USA and it has to be noted that he scored on his debut. In 2013 he won FIFA Confederations Cup with the Brazilian national team. Neymar was born on 5 February, 1992.
Highlighted Team (Paraguay):
Los Guaranies are the part of CONMEBOL confederation vying for glory at the international scene since 1919 and their debut loss to Argentina 5-1. Paraguay are regular participants at the Copa America winning the tournament on two occasions thus far, most recently in 1979.
They came close to glory in recent editions of the tournament as they fell short in the final of 2011 to Uruguay, while they finished fourth in 2015. The most successful period of the Paraguay national team came under Argentine coach Gerardo Martino, who took Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time in history. Following the 2010 success, Paraguay failed to qualify for their fourth successive FIFA World Cup finals as they have also missed out on the third consecutive global championship held inside their own continent.
Toluca FC centre back Paulo da Silva is the most capped player of the Paraguay national team, while former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is the team’s top scorer with 32 goals to his name.