Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Uruguay
Match Time & Date:
07/09/2024
01:30
Prediction: 2-1
Paraguay
All eyes will be on Estadio Centenario when Uruguay and Paraguay go head to head in round 7 of the South America World Cup qualifiers. This night will be very emotional for Uruguay fans as former FC Barcelona star Luis Suarez will play his last game for the national team. Boca Juniors striker Gonzalo Merentiel is likely to make his La Celeste debut against Paraguay as Liverpool ace Darwin Nunez misses out through suspension.
La Albirroja, on the other hand, failed to impress at the 2024 Copa America, with the team losing each of their three group games. As Paraguay are not considered good travellers, we are tempted to place our bets on Uruguay, who aim to put an extra pressure on leaders Argentina. New Paraguay boss Gustavo Alfaro will surely rely on Premier League stars Julio Enciso (Brighton) and Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United) in Saturday’s showdown.
Highlighted Player (Luis Suarez):
Luis Suarez is a controversial footballer who plays for La Liga side Barcelona as a striker. The Uruguayan forward moved to Europe in 2006, signing a deal with Groningen. After scoring 10 goals in 27 league appearances for the club in the 2006/2007 Eredivisie campaign, he joined Ajax at the end of the season. The prolific striker scored no less than 81 goals in 110 appearances for Ajax and, as a result, Liverpool chiefs decided to sign him on 31 January 2011.
Suarez became the club’s most expensive signing and he was producing thrilling performances with the Anfield outfit between 2011 and 2014. Liverpool were on the verge of winning the 2013/2014 Premier League trophy, but Steven Gerrard slipped in the decider against Chelsea and they eventually finished the season in second place in the standings.
In 2014 Suarez joined Barcelona and he was the top scorer in the 2015/2016 La Liga campaign. He won the 2013/2014 Premier League Golden Boot as well and in 2011 he clinched the Copa America trophy with Uruguay.
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.
