Chile will face Paraguay on Thursday night in a pivotal Matchday 13 clash of the 2026 South American World Cup Qualifiers. Both teams are fighting to keep their hopes alive for a direct qualification spot or, at the very least, a playoff berth. However, one of the biggest questions leading up to the match has been the absence of Chilean star Alexis Sánchez.
The all-time leading scorer for La Roja will miss this crucial showdown, the Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) confirmed on Wednesday. “Sánchez will not travel but remains in camp. He is staying behind to recover from muscle fatigue,” the federation told AFP. The 36-year-old forward, currently playing for Udinese, has struggled with recurring injuries this season, limiting his playing time in Italy.
Sánchez has not played for Chile since June 2024, when La Roja was eliminated in the Copa América group stage following a draw against Canada. They finished group stage only with 2 points.
Chile head coach Ricardo Gareca had hoped to have the veteran forward available, stating earlier that he looked “in good shape and eager to play.” Despite his absence, there is optimism that Sánchez could return for Chile’s next qualifier against Ecuador on Tuesday in Santiago.
Julio Enciso of Paraguay
Chile’s likely attack without Sánchez
With Sánchez unavailable, Gareca has tested a new attacking trio in training. He has lined up Alexander Aravena, Eduardo Vargas, and Lucas Cepeda as the team’s offensive unit. It remains to be seen whether he will stick with this setup or make adjustments ahead of kickoff.
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Chile’s standings and qualification outlook
La Roja currently sits in ninth place—second to last in the table—with just nine points after 12 matches in the 18-game qualifying campaign. Paraguay, sitting in sixth place with 17 points, holds the final automatic qualification spot, making this match a must-win for Chile.
Meanwhile, the playoff position is currently occupied by Bolivia, who sits in seventh place with 13 points—four ahead of Chile. With no Soccer World Cup appearance since Brazil 2014, La Roja is under immense pressure to secure a victory against Gustavo Alfaro’s Paraguay and keep its qualification hopes alive.
