Separated by just one place and one point in the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying standings, Paraguay and Venezuela square off on Tuesday at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco.

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Without a World Cup appearance since making it to the quarter-finals of the 2010 edition in South Africa - their best-ever result at the global gathering - Paraguay's wait for another appearance at the quadrennial event looks set to stretch to the two-decade mark.

The White and Red - who have automatically qualified for the 2030 World Cup as anniversary match co-hosts, having been involved in the inaugural edition 94 years ago - have a mere 10 points on the board from nine contests thus far, one of which was gleaned on October 10.

Alfaro's crop were barely able to venture out of their own half against Ecuador, boasting just 23% of the ball and facing 15 shots, but the Paraguayan defence stood tall to come away with a hard-earned clean sheet and take their side into double figures for points.

Paraguay's current eighth-placed ranking would not suffice for qualification - only the top six automatically go through - but the White and Red have enjoyed a mini-revival of sorts in the past few weeks, now unbeaten in three straight World Cup qualifiers.

Two tremendous results in September saw Paraguay hold Uruguay to a goalless draw before stunning the continent with a 1-0 beating of five-time winners Brazil, meaning that Alfaro's sturdy side have kept three straight clean sheets ahead of the visit of Venezuela.

Paraguay and Venezuela can share a joke when it comes to thwarting the big boys of South American football, as Tuesday's visitors to Asuncion incredibly held reigning world champions Argentina to their first draw of the qualifying process on matchday nine.

Two former Premier League stars were on the scoresheet at Estadio Monumental, as Nicolas Otamendi's opener preceded Salomon Rondon's 45th goal for his country, one which allowed Venezuela to steal a point off of the 2022 World Cup winners.

The resident stalemate specialists in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Fernando Batista's side have drawn five of their nine contests so far - more than any other side - but their modest total of 11 points has them seventh in the 10-nation table, which would put them in next year's inter-confederation playoffs.

For a nation that has never competed at a World Cup finals before, Venezuela's record of just one loss from their last eight qualifying games is highly commendable, as was their 1-0 victory over Paraguay in qualifying 13 months ago.

Tuesday's hosts have traditionally had the better of previous battles, though, winning 19 of their 29 head-to-heads down the years, and it took until the 13th attempt in 2001 for Venezuela to finally get one over the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists.

Paraguay possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Balbuena, Gomez, Alderete; Caceres, Cubas, Bobadilla, Alonso; Almiron, Arce, Enciso

Venezuela possible starting lineup:

Romo; Gonzalez, Osorio, Ferraresi, Aramburu; Castillo, Rincon, Herrera; Savarino, Rondon, Soltedo