Paraguay will join Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (WC) following a goalless draw at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in the penultimate round of CONMEBOL qualification fixtures.
The visitors had already secured their place at next summer’s finals, but that didn’t stop them from firing off the first shot after just four minutes, with Enner Valencia’s shot blocked.
Eight minutes later, Paraguay threatened themselves when Hernan Galindez pulled off a smart low save to keep Ramon Sosa’s fierce strike out.
Galíndez and Sosa were dueling again shortly after, and the Ecuadorian goalkeeper again came out as he thwarted the winger’s one-on-one effort with an even more impressive save.
Nilson Angulo’s first-time strike, that flew straight into the hands of Gatito Fernandez on the stroke of the half-hour mark, followed a relatively quiet period in play, which was in keeping with the remainder of the first half’s action.
The second period in Asuncion started off in similar fashion, but the match almost burst into life in the 67th minute. Taking aim from a long way out, it looked as though Andres Cubas’ effort would beat Galindez but, while that ultimately proved to be the case, the crossbar came to Ecuador’s rescue.
Despite substitutions from both benches, neither nation could make the breakthrough as the teams played out almost a carbon copy of October’s reverse WC qualifying clash.
A share of the spoils denies Paraguay a sixth successive success on home soil in qualification, but that will hardly bother anyone associated with Gustavo Alfaro’s side and Paraguayan football given they will participate in FIFA’s showpiece event for the first time since 2010.
Meanwhile, Ecuador drop down to fourth position in the qualification standings, but the result is similarly irrelevant in the bigger picture of next year’s tournament.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Hernan Galindez (Ecuador)