Paraguay came back from Lautaro Martinez’s early goal to defeat Argentina 2-1 for Matchday 11 of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at Defensores del Chaco stadium. Lionel Messi and company had an underwhelming performance, and now they are three matches away from home without winning.
At only 11 minutes of the first half, Enzo Fernandez provided a great assist for Lautaro Martinez to find the net. It was Martinez’s 31th goal with the Argentina national team, and he is now tied with Gonzalo Higuain in the all-time goalscorers table.
Paraguay was the better team today, and they defeated Argentina 2-1 at Los Defensores del Chaco.
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FULL TIME! ARGENTINA LOSES! (2-1)
Paraguay defeated La Albiceleste with goals by Antonio Sanabria and Omar Alderete, after Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring.
94' - Castellanos with a clear chance! (2-1)
Argentina almost scores, but Valentin Castellanos' header went wide. It seems like La Albiceleste are going to lose.
90' - Six more minutes! (2-1)
Argentina only have six more minutes to try to tie the game.
88' - Julian Alvarez is subbed off (2-1)
Julian Alvarez left the pitch, replaced by Valentin Castellanos. In Paraguay, Almiron is also subbed off. Alejandro Romero enters.
85' - Dibu saves Sosa's shot! (2-1)
Ramon Sosa had a dangerous free kick, but Emiliano Martinez appeared to save La Albiceleste.
81' - Yellow card for Otamendi (2-1)
Nicolas Otamendi see the yellow card after he stepped up on a Paraguay's player. Meanwhile, there are new changes in Paraguay: Enciso and Bobadilla out, Sosa and Villasanti are in.
79' - MESSI! ALMOST! (2-1)
Messi with a great shot that went wide just by a little! Argentina are still down 2-1 in Asuncion.
77' - New change in Argentina (2-1)
Leandro Paredes is in, Enzo Fernandez is out. Gonzalo Montiel replaces Nahuel Molina.
75' - Alderete with another chance (2-1)
Paraguay want more. Alderete has another chance, but his chance goes wide.
72' - Changes in Paraguay (2-1)
Antonio Sanabria and Diego Gomez are subbed off. Isidro Pitta and Angel Romero enter the pitch.
69' - DE PAUL! ALMOST! (2-1)
Argentina with the counter attack! De Paul had a great chance to equalize but his shot went wide!
66' - Argentina start to dominate the ball again (2-1)
Garnacho's entry has helped Argentina, who are now moving the ball to try to find ways to get closer to Roberto Fernandez's box.
63' - Alejandro Garnacho enters the pitch (2-1)
Lionel Scaloni moves some pieces. Alexis Mac Allister leaves the pitch, and Manchester United star enters.
61' - Free-kick for Argentina (2-1)
Lionel Messi appeared and got a free-kick. However, it's far away from the box, and nothing happened.
57' - Argentina with only one shot on target (2-1)
Argentina haven't been effective tonight against Paraguay. Lionel Scaloni's men have only recorded four shots, and only one (Lautaro's goal) was on target.
52' - Yellow card for Andres Cubas (2-1)
Andres Cubas also received a yellow card.
50' - Argentina are in trouble (2-1)
Lionel Scaloni's men are suffering to control the game. Paraguay are comfortable, while La Albiceleste don't find their way out.
46' - PARAGUAY SCORES! (2-1)
Omar Alderete scores after a free-kick! Paraguay lead Argentina 2-1 at the start of the second half!
45' - MATCH RESUMES (1-1)
At the start of the first half, Argentina plays without Cuti Romero. Leonardo Balerdi enters the pitch.
END OF THE FIRST HALF! (1-1)
The first half is gone. The match has been hard-fought so far. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring, but Tony Sanabria tied the game with an incredible bicycle goal.
45' - Messi appears! (1-1)
While Argentina aren't being as effective and dangerous as against Bolivia, Messi got his chance to enter the box. It ended ip in anything.
43' - Almiron with a scare (1-1)
It seemed like Almiron wasn't going to continue playing after what appear a muscle strain. However, the player stayed in the pitch.
41' - Almiron gets a counterattack (1-1)
With the match still 1-1, both teams are looking to break the tie. Almirón recovered the ball after a bad pass, but Emi Martinez find the ball easily.
38' - Free-kick for Argentina (1-1)
Alderete tackles Messi in the midfield, and Argentina got a free-kick. However, Alderete doesn't receive the second yellow card.
32' - ALVAREZ CLOSE! (1-1)
Lionel Messi appeared to give a long pass to Julian Alvarez. But the 'Spider' couldn't find the ball to sent it into the net. Match still 1-1.
29' - Argentina with a chance! (1-1)
Argentina don't need much to bring danger to Fernandez's box. However, they haven't found the second goal yet. Lionel Messi has been absent so far.
24' - An exciting battle at Defensores del Chaco (1-1)
Tony Sanabria's goal has changed the match again. Argentina are trying to control the ball, while the hosts will wait for an opportunity to counter attack.
19' - SANABRIA WITH THE GOAL! (1-1)
Tony Sanabria equalize the match with an incredible bicycle goal!
14' - VAR CONFIRMS: GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! (0-1)
Lautaro's goal is valid! Argentina is leading the match at Defensores del Chaco thanks to El Toro.
11' - Lautaro scores, VAR reviews (0-0)
Argentina recovered the ball in attack, and Lautaro Martinez had the chance to scored. However, the Inter Milan's forward was in offside. However, VAR images appear to show the goal was legal...
10' - Match remains goalless, but Paraguay get close (0-0)
After the corner kick, Paraguay had two shots. Nothing to worry Emiliano Martinez, but the hosts are sending clear messages that they won't wait to bring danger to the box.
7' - Corner kick for Paraguay (0-0)
Paraguay had their first chance after Julian Alvarez lost the ball in the midfield. The hosts have a corner kick.
5' - Lautaro! Argentina close to the first (0-0)
Argentina had a great combination to enter the box. However, Lautaro's center didn't find anyone to shoot. Paraguay responded with a timid attack.
4' - Argentina in control (0-0)
Argentina are controlling the ball in the first minutes of the match. Paraguay are well positioned in the field to not let them advance.
KICK-OFF! (0-0)
Argentina and Paraguay are playing at Defensores del Chaco!
All ready for Paraguay vs Argentina!
Players are entering the pitch at Defensores del Chaco Stadium for Matchday 11 of World Cup Qualifiers. All is set for the national anthems. The match starts at 6:30 PM (ET).
What’s the ‘anti-Messi’ policy?
Ahead of the match, the Paraguayan Federation said that “Fans will not be permitted to enter with Argentina, Barcelona, or Inter (Miami) jerseys bearing Messi’s name, or any attire affiliated with visiting players” for sections designated for Paraguayan fans in Defensores del Chaco.
Fans of Paraguay await the start of the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Paraguay and Argentina (Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)
Player to watch: Antonio Sanabria
Argentina’s defense has to watch out for Antonio ‘Tony’ Sanabra, one of the most prolific players from Paraguay. The Torino’s forward has three goals in six matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Paraguay's forward Antonio Sanabria (Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is one assist away to equalize international all-time record
Messi has another record on sight. If the Argentine captain provides one more assist today, he can equalize USMNT’s Landon Donovan’s record of 58 international assists.
Paraguay's lineup confirmed!
Paraguay will play against Argentina with this lineup: Roberto Fernandez; Gustavo Velazquez, Gustavo Gomez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso; Miguel Almiron, Damian Bobadilla, Andres Cubas, Diego Gomez; Julio Enciso and Tony Sanabria.
Argentina to play with Lautaro, Messi and Julian
Just as against Bolivia, Argentina are going to play with their dangerous trio: Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez. In their last match, Messi not only scored a hat-trick, but he provided two assists for both Alvarez and Martinez.
Lionel Messi’s record against Paraguay
While Argentina has the better record against Paraguay in the head to head, in the past few years La Albirroja has been a tough opponent for them. Here’s Messi record against their upcoming rival:
Played: 13
Won: 6
Drawn: 5
Lost: 2
Goals: 5
Assists: 5
Lionel Messi of Argentina runs the field (Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Today’s stage: Defensores del Chaco Stadium
Paraguay hosts the World Champions at Defensores del Chaco stadium, which has a capacity for 42,354 people. The last time La Albiceleste played in this same stage, they were held to a goalless draw in a match for the 2022 World Cup Qualifying.
A view inside Defensores del Chaco Stadium (Nathalia Aguilar - Pool/Getty Images)
Is Lionel Messi playing? Argentina's lineup confirmed!
Lionel Messi is in the starting lineup! According to journalist Gaston Edul, Argentina is playing with:
Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cuti Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi; Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.
Today's referee
Today’s referee is Brazilian Anderson Daronco.
He officiated three matches for La Albiceleste: two victories, a 3-1 win over Ecuador in 2017 (the match where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia), and a 2-1 win against Chile in Calama in 2022. He was also in one draw, precisely a goalless match against Paraguay in Asunción in 2021.
Referee: Anderson Daronco
Assistant 1: Bruno Pires
Assistant 2: Rafael Alves
Fourth official: Rafael Klein
VAR: Rodolpho Toski
AVAR: Rodrigo Nunes
Kick-off time and how to watch
The clash between Paraguay and Argentina for the Matchday 11 of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers will kick off at 6:30 PM (ET).
If you want to watch the match in the US, it will be available for viewers on Fanatiz.
Paraguay host Argentina for Matchday 11 of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Welcome to our live blog of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers match between Paraguay and Argentina!
International soccer returns with an exciting date of World Cup Qualifiers. Argentina want to maintain their place atop of the CONMEBOL standings with a victory against Paraguay at El Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion.
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