Frank Christian
After a disappointing debut match as head coach for Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti is looking to turn things around as the Selecao prepares to face Paraguay at home in a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday night in Sao Paulo.
Despite the hype surrounding Ancelotti’s arrival, Brazil could only muster three shots in a lackluster match that ended in a goalless draw against a rigid Ecuador defense over the weekend. Fans were anticipating an immediate uptick in performance from the legendary Real Madrid manager, but the outcome was a frustrating lack of offensive vitality.
Vinicius Jr. attempted to make Ancelotti’s first game a triumph, yet was unable to change the narrative as Brazil finished once again without scoring. The 24-year-old’s international tally has stagnated at six goals in 40 appearances, raising concerns about his effectiveness on the national stage.
On the other hand, Paraguay is riding a wave of impressive performances and is poised for this matchup. They currently hold third place in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, two points clear of Brazil. With a remarkable streak of nine consecutive matches unbeaten, they solidified their momentum with a 2-0 victory against Uruguay in their last outing.
With the top six teams securing automatic spots for the 2026 tournament, and the seventh earning an intercontinental playoff, both Brazil and Paraguay seem well-positioned to qualify for the expanded tournament in the United States, irrespective of this match’s result.
Brazil vs. Paraguay starting lineups, team news
After being limited to just three shots in their last game against Ecuador, Ancelotti will likely be pleased to have Raphinha returning from suspension due to a yellow card. He might also consider incorporating Matheus Cunha, whom he left on the bench in the last match.
Neymar is still recovering from multiple muscle injuries, while Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson remains sidelined due to injury, along with Arsenal’s Gabriel. Brazil’s defense is particularly thin with injuries to Eder Militao and Bremer, posing yet another challenge for Ancelotti following a season with Real Madrid marked by injury issues.
Notable absentees from the squad include Ancelotti’s former players at Real Madrid, Rodrygo and Endrick. Other players missing include midfielders Lucas Paqueta and Joelinton, as well as Savinho from Manchester City and Joao Pedro from Brighton.
Brazil predicted lineup (4-3-1-2, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Vanderson, Marquinhos, Ribeiro, Sandro — Gerson, Casemiro, B. Guimaraes — Cunha — Raphinha, Vinicius Jr.
Full Brazil squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento, Hugo Souza.
Defenders: Alexsandro, Carlos Augusto, Lucas Beraldo, Danilo, Marquinhos, Leo Ortiz, Wesley, Vanderson.
Midfielders: Casemiro, Ederson, Gerson, Bruno Guimaraes, Andreas Pereira, Andrey Santos.
Forwards: Antony, Matheus Cunha, Estevao, Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr.
Paraguay boasts a fully fit roster, including Brighton talents Diego Gomez and Julio Enciso; the latter was instrumental in sealing the recent victory over Uruguay with a late penalty.
Unfortunately, they will be without midfielder Matias Galarza, who is suspended after receiving a booking against Uruguay.
Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron has returned to MLS from Newcastle and was a significant threat in the matchup against Uruguay, potentially causing problems for Brazil’s defense.
Paraguay predicted lineup (4-4-2, right to left): R. Fernandez (GK) — Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso — D. Gomez, Cubas, Villasanti, Almiron — Enciso, Sanabria.
Full Paraguay squad
Goalkeepers: Carlos Coronel, Juan Espinola, Roberto Fernandez, Orlando Gill.
Defenders: Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso, Fabian Balbuena, Juan Caceres, Ronaldo de Jesus, Gustavo Gomez, Agustin Sandez, Gustavo Velazquez.
Midfielders: Miguel Almiron, Damian Bobadilla, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza, Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Kaku), Diego Gomez, Ruben Lezcano, Ramon Sosa, Mathias Villasanti.
Forwards: Gabriel Avalos, Julio Enciso, Isidro Pitta, Rodney Redes, Angel Romero, Antonio Sanabria.
Brazil vs. Paraguay score prediction
With Raphinha back in the lineup, Brazil is expected to show more attacking flair, but given their lackluster performance in Ecuador, even an improvement may not be enough to beat an in-form Paraguay.
If Ancelotti aims to maximize his team’s chances of success, starting Matheus Cunha could be a wise choice. Otherwise, the Selecao may face yet another unsatisfying result against a confident opponent fresh off a solid victory.
Prediction: Brazil 1-1 Paraguay
Brazil vs. Paraguay live stream, TV channel
| Country | Date | Time | TV | Streaming |
| USA | Tue, Jun. 10 | 8:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. PT | Universo | Fubo, ViX, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo |
| Canada | Tue, Jun. 10 | 8:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. PT | — | Fanatiz, Onefootball |
| UK | Wed, Jun. 11 | 1:45 a.m. BST | Premier Sports 2 | Premier Player |
| Australia | Wed, Jun. 11 | 12:45 p.m. AEST | — | SBS On Demand |
| India | Wed, Jun. 11 | 6:15 a.m. IST | — | Fanatiz, Onefootball |
This CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier will be broadcast in the United States on Universo in Spanish, also available for streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
For regions without a specific broadcasting partner for this match, fans can stream the game through Fanatiz or Onefootball.
