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Paraguay will host Nicaragua at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion for an international friendly on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 02:15 WITA (Lombok time).

The Paraguayan national team is using this fixture as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup.

Gustavo Alfaro’s side qualified for the World Cup through the South American qualifiers, finishing sixth out of ten teams with 28 points—equal to Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil—but behind on goal difference.

La Albirroja will face co-hosts the United States (June 13), Turkey (June 20), and Australia (June 26) in Group D, with all three group stage matches scheduled to take place in California.

The South American team played two friendlies in March, defeating Greece 1-0 before falling 2-1 to African champions Morocco.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua will not be taking part in the World Cup, but they remain active this year through a series of friendly matches.

In March, La Azul y Blanco suffered a 3-1 defeat to Russia at the Ozon Arena in Krasnodar. Nicaragua impressed early on, taking a 16th-minute lead through Oscar Acevedo, but Russia responded with goals from Lechi Sadulaev, Konstantin Tyukavin, and Aleksandr Golovin.

On Friday, May 29, the Central American side earned a notable 0-0 draw against World Cup-bound South Africa in Johannesburg.

Paraguay vs Nicaragua Head-to-Head

• Paraguay and Nicaragua have met only once before, with the South Americans winning 2-0.
• That meeting, in June 2023 at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco, saw Miguel Almiron score twice in the second half to secure victory for Paraguay.
• According to the current FIFA World Rankings, Paraguay sit in 40th place, while Nicaragua are ranked 131st globally.

Team News: Paraguay vs Nicaragua

Paraguay boast a talented squad, with Strasbourg forward Julio Enciso arguably their key player.

Enciso’s pace and directness make him central to Paraguay’s attack, alongside former Newcastle winger Almiron, Brighton star Diego Gomez, and striker Antonio Sanabria.

In defence, Sunderland centre-back Omar Alderete is expected to be joined by Juan Jose Caceres, Gustavo Gomez, and Junior Alonso.

Nicaragua are unlikely to make major changes following their draw with South Africa, with Joab Gutierrez, Justing Cano, Evert Martinez, and Leyner Moses expected to retain their places at the back.

Oliver Bello could replace Oliver Orozco, while Jorge Garcia is likely to continue leading the line.

Predicted Line-ups: Paraguay vs Nicaragua

Paraguay: Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; D. Gomez, Cubas, Enciso, Bobadilla, Almiron; Sanabria

Nicaragua: Pineda; Gutierrez, Martinez, Cano, Moses; Moncada, Coronel; Cole, Montes, Bello; Garcia

Paraguay vs Nicaragua Score Prediction

Sportskeeda Version

After their recent trip to South Africa, Nicaragua’s players may still feel the fatigue in their legs, which could make things more difficult against their South American opponents.

Paraguay are expected to use their tactical discipline and physical strength to dominate possession and control the game’s tempo. Much like their previous friendly against South Africa, Nicaragua will likely sit deep with a compact defensive block, aiming to frustrate their opponents and counter when possible.

Paraguay will look to build confidence with a strong showing in their final pre-World Cup friendly, and we expect La Albirroja to claim a comfortable victory.

Predicted Score: Paraguay 3-0 Nicaragua

Sportsmole Version

Nicaragua are expected to be tough to break down, as shown by their defensive display against South Africa last week, but Paraguay should still have enough quality to secure a routine win.

Predicted Score: Paraguay 2-0 Nicaragua

TribunLombok Version

Paraguay hold a clear advantage in terms of individual quality and experience. Gustavo Alfaro’s squad features players competing in top European leagues such as Julio Enciso, Miguel Almiron, Diego Gomez, Gustavo Gomez, and Antonio Sanabria. Playing in Asuncion also provides a significant boost, as Paraguay are known for their aggressive home performances.

However, Nicaragua have shown noticeable improvement in recent months. Their goalless draw against South Africa proved they can defend with discipline against stronger opponents. Earlier, they even caused problems for Russia, taking the lead before eventually losing 1-3.

With the World Cup around the corner, Paraguay’s focus may be more on player fitness and tactical adjustments rather than chasing a big win. Such situations often see stronger teams lower their intensity over the full 90 minutes.

That said, Paraguay’s attacking line is still expected to be difficult to contain. The creativity of Enciso and Almiron should be enough to generate dangerous chances. Nicaragua might find a goal through a counter-attack or set-piece, but maintaining concentration for the entire match against a World Cup-qualified South American side will be a major challenge.

Given their superior individual quality, home advantage, and squad depth, Paraguay remain strong favourites to win, though the match may be more competitive than many expect.

Predicted Score: Paraguay 2-1 Nicaragua