Gustavo Alfaro extended his brilliant unbeaten reign as Paraguay manager (W5, D4), and gave their FIFA World Cup qualifying hopes a major boost as Los Guaranies coasted to a 2-0 victory at home to Uruguay.
2026 World Cup qualification South America
2-0
Match Report
Paraguay are aiming to make their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals since 2010, and since Alfaro took over the national side, four wins and four draws has the nation on the verge. And the home side looked the most dangerous in the opening stages.
Making his first competitive start in goal for Uruguay since October 2023, Santiago Mele’s eagerness to impress on his return backfired. Failure to gather Julio Enciso’s deflected cross allowed the more determined Matías Galarza to powerfully head home - despite the presence of two defenders guarding the line.
One nearly became two for Galarza and Paraguay four minutes before the half-hour mark in the Paraguayan capital as the midfielder’s fierce strike required Mele to acrobatically redirect the ball over the bar.
Despite being on course to join Paraguay across the United States, Mexico and Canada next year, Uruguay’s poor run of form continued in Asuncion.
In the absence of Federico Valverde - who withdrew from the squad in favour of preparing for Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign - and Darwin Nunez who was left at home by Marcelo Bielsa for June’s two-match qualification cycle, a depleted Uruguay attack failed to force Gatito Fernández into a save throughout the first half.
Bielsa’s response was to call upon Joaquin Piquerez during HT, with the attack-minded left-back replacing Mathías Olivera. However, following a relatively quiet period in the game, it was Enciso who nearly doubled Paraguay’s lead in the 68th minute with a stunning strike from distance that flew narrowly wide of the top corner.
The Brighton & Hove Albion attacker’s determination eventually resulted with him getting his name onto the scoresheet in the 81st minute. Ronald Araujo’s clumsy challenge in the area left referee Darío Humberto Herrera no choice but to award a penalty, which Enciso confidently fired past Mele.
The three points see Paraguay leapfrog Brazil into third position in the qualification standings, with Alfaro’s men knowing a win on Wednesday against Carlo Ancelotti's newly-inherited side will almost certainly guarantee a place at next year’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, despite the defeat, Uruguay still remain six points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela, with three matches left to play in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
13' GOAL! Paraguay 1-0 Uruguay (Matías Galarza Fonda)
36' Highlight from Paraguay vs Uruguay
47' Match Event for Paraguay vs Uruguay
69' Match Event for Paraguay vs Uruguay
80' Highlight from Paraguay vs Uruguay
81' Penalty Goal! Paraguay 2-0 Uruguay (Julio Enciso)
Line-ups
Paraguay XI: Roberto Fernández, G.Gómez, J.Alonso, Almiron, Sanabria, Omar Alderete, Andrés Cubas, Julio Enciso, Matías Galarza Fonda, Juan José Cáceres, Diego Gómez
Subs: Ángel Romero, Balbuena, Gustavo Velázquez, Gabriel Ávalos, Carlos Coronel, Kaku, Mathías Villasanti, Orlando Gill, Isidro Pitta, Damián Bobadilla, Ramón Sosa, Agustín Sández
Uruguay XI: Rodrigo Aguirre, G. Varela, G. De Arrascaeta, Gimenez, N. Nández, Santiago Mele, M.Olivera, Ugarte, Araujo, Maxi Araújo, Facundo Pellistri
Subs: Santiago Bueno, Joaquín Piquerez, Cristopher Fiermarín, José Luis Rodríguez, Franco Israel, B Rodriguez, Nicolás Fonseca, Rodrigo Zalazar, Cristian Olivera, Emiliano Martínez, Nicolás Marichal, Agustín Álvarez