Preview: South Korea vs Paraguay – predictions, team news, lineups

Hoping to get back on track in preparation for 2026 World Cup, South Korea will welcome Paraguay at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday.

The Taegeuk Warriors seek to place their recent moves in the past, while Los Guaranies are aiming to reach four games unbeaten by midweek.

Match Preview

Hong Myung-boSouth Korea qualified for the World Cup in the third round of the AFC process, topping Group B to advance directly to the tournament.

Next summer will likely be the legendary striker’s last World Cup Son Heung-Minand the Taegeuk Warriors will be desperate to put on a memorable performance in North America after last making it past the round of 16 in 2002, when they were co-hosts.

However, Hong’s team enters this clash having won just one of their last four matches, a 2-0 victory against the United States on September 6, Son scored the opener and assisted the second in a strong first half.

More recently, South Korea was beaten 5-0 by Carlo AncelottiBrazil, a result and performance that will be of particular concern to fans given the Asian Tigers had just one shot on target to the Selecao’s seven, as well as 0.15 expected goals to their opponents’ three.

Tuesday’s hosts will be eager to regain momentum as they prepare for the World Cup, but given they have lost their last two home matches – failing to score in either – they will need to challenge their form on home turf to do so.

In the meantime, Gustavo Julio AlfaroThe Paraguayans reached the World Cup final for the first time since the iconic 2010 tournament in South Africa, and they have maintained their good form in matches since.

Los Guaranies finished sixth in the CONMEBOL standings, with seven wins, seven draws and just four defeats – the second fewest among qualifying nations – to end their campaign eight points clear of seventh-placed Bolivia in the playoffs.

Impressively, the resilience of Alfaro’s men is also reflected in the fact that they have lost just one of their 13 matches since July 2024, a commendable streak marred only by a close scoreline. 1-0 defeat against Selecao in June this year.

After this defeat, Paraguay kept consecutive clean sheets in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador and a 1-0 victory on the road to Peruin front of a 2-2 deadlock with Japan Friday, a match in which La Albirroja took the advantage twice.

Hoping to maintain the form that has brought them success so far, Los Guaranies will feel capable of another positive result given they have only tasted defeat in one of their last seven away clashes, but with just one win in that period they may lack the firepower to secure anything other than a stalemate on Tuesday.

South Korea’s international friendlies form:

South Korea form (all competitions):

Form of Paraguay’s international friendlies:

Paraguay form (all competitions):

Team News

South Korea will be keen to make up for their latest defeat, and Son Heung-min could once again lead the line, supported by Lee Kang-in And Lee Jae-sung from everywhere.

In the center of the park, Hwang In-Beom can associate Paik Seung-howhile Cho Yu-min, Kim min-yes and Kim Ju-sung are expected to start in the bottom three, flanked by wingers Seol Young-woo and Lee Tae-seok.

As for Paraguay, Gustavo Gomez And Omar Alderete should continue in the center half while Fabien Balbuena is sidelined with a broken ankle that is expected to keep him out until December.

Elsewhere, Diego Gonzalez And Miguel Almiron are likely to line up wide, providing the attacker Antonio Sanabria in the absence of a center forward like Isidro Pitta and winger Ramon Sosaboth injured in the thigh.

In the middle third, Alfaro could name Damien Bobadilla And Andres Cubas in double pivot, with Diego Gomez ready to operate right in front of them in an attacking midfielder role behind the front line.

Possible starting lineup in South Korea:

HJo; Seol, Cho, M Kim, J Kim, T Lee; K Lee, Hwang, Paik, and J Lee; Son

Paraguay possible starting lineup:

Fernández; Cáceres, G Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; Bobadilla, Cuba; Gonzalez, D Gomez, Almiron; Sanabria

We say: South Korea 1-1 Paraguay

South Korea will be desperate to recover from their 5-0 defeat to Brazil in front of their home crowd, so expect a determined performance.

However, given Paraguay’s demonstrated resilience both home and away, the hosts may be forced to settle for a draw on Tuesday.

For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.

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