Prediction: Chile vs Paraguay

Verdict: Chile win

Best odds: 77/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Drawing up the last adjustments before the start of the Copa America, Chile will take on Paraguay. The game will be played at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos and concludes the final preparations for the biggest national football tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.

Chile

While Chile’s campaign to qualify for the World Cup 2026 isn’t going according to plan, the host managed to reach the Copa America group stages. Chile’s national team downfall was obvious as La Roja failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Despite claiming supreme success at the Continental level after winning their 2nd CONMEBOL Copa América in 2016 by defeating Argentina in the final following a dramatic penalty shootout, Chile’s glory days seem to be taking a hit.

Although 7 of 10 teams from CONMEBOL are granted a place for the next World Cup, Chile is currently positioned 8 in the standings with five points gained from their six games played. Despite having enough games left to recover the deficit, La Roja has to improve their level to avoid missing the 2nd consecutive final World Tournament.

However, facing Peru, Argentina and Canada in the upcoming Copa America group stage will be an uphill battle for Ricardo Gareca’s team which aims to reach the knockout stages. Besides, considering Argentina is tipped to finish top, Chile will battle Peru and Canada for the 2nd spot, making the opening game against Peru crucial in the qualification race.

Although Chile’s European tour with two friendly tests against Albania (3-0 win) and France (3-2 defeat) displayed the hosts’ current level, the game against Paraguay can further boost Chile before the upcoming Copa America.

Team News

Ricardo Gareca is expected to line up the same formation he used against France. His 4-3-2-1 counterattacking system proved successful against Albania and France by scoring five goals in these two games. Although Chile lost against the 2nd ranked national team in the World, La Roja submitted Les Bleus to a real test in Marseille.

Paraguay

Paraguay is further dropping in the rankings after succeeding a single win in the last seven games. Despite playing accessible opponents like Peru, Venezuela and Nicaragua, the visitors defeated Bolivia during this time. Although the 2026 World Cup qualifications are ongoing, Paraguay struggles to find consistency in this campaign. Starting their run with a disappointing home stalemate (0-0) against Peru, the visitors failed to impress in the next matches after conceding to Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.

However, after Paraguay missed reaching the last three final tournaments, Danielo Garnero, the current national team coach appointed last September, was given the difficult task of guiding Paraguay to the 2026 World Cup. Furthermore, after being seeded in a difficult group with Colombia, Brazil and Costa Rica, the Argentinian manager has a mission impossible to reach Copa America’s knockout phase.

Although Paraguay improved under the new boss, Danielo Garnero still has a tough task after seeing his players consistently miss the target in the last friendly game against Peru. Despite dominating the game and creating more chances to score, Paraguay was held to a 0-0 stalemate in Lima, failing to capitalize on any clear chances to score opportunities.

However, despite failing to score in the last three games, the visitors’ defence proved very solid after conceding three goals in the previous eight games despite facing top teams like Argentina and Colombia. More so, looking back to 2021 when Paraguay defeated Chile (2-0) away from home will be a performance Danielo Garnero’s players aim to replicate before starting the Copa America.

Team News

Gustavo Velazquez, Ramon Sosa and Adam Bareiro will not make the trip to Santiago de Chile and will likely miss the participation in the Copa America scheduled to start this month. The medical staff expects all three players to recover from their injuries, no sooner than 30 June.

Key factors to consider

• Chile displayed great quality by defeating Albania and posing serious problems to France, despite losing 3-2
• The hosts are favourites to win the last test against Paraguay before starting the Copa America tournament
• Paraguay struggles in front of the opposition box after netting a single time in the last seven games
• The visitors failed to win any of their last four games played against Chille (D1L3)

Conclusion

Chile has clearly improved in the last games following two challenging tests against France and Albania. The hosts’ two goals in Marseille against France put them in the lead to defeat Paraguay, despite the visitors’ formidable defending.

Verdict: Chile win

Best odds: 77/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet