Paraguay plays host to Brazil at the Estadio Héroes de Curupayty in Asunción on Saturday. The game is the first of a two match elimination series. The winner, on aggregate, will advance to the Final Qualification Tournament, joining Belgium, Namibia and Samoa. The victorious team from the repechage will claim the last remaining spot at Rugby World Cup 2027.
FORM GUIDE  |
Current World Ranking: 38 (48.35 points)
2025-08-23 – Uruguay 78-10 Paraguay (Montevideo, UY)
2025-07-26 – Paraguay 0-38 Uruguay (Asunción, PY)
2025-07-19 – Salta 43-31 Paraguay (Salta, AR)
Current World Ranking: 28 (55.90 points)
2025-07-26 – Chile 35-20 Brazil (Santiago, CL)
July 19, 2025 – Brazil 21-35 Chile (São Paulo, BR)
July 05, 2025 – Brazil 17-45 Argentina XV (Jacareí, BR)
Mariano Garcete (Paraguay Captain)
“We know that the Brazilians put forward a very front-on game. We have to go in with confidence. It is not one or two 80 minute matches… they are 80 matches of one minute here in Asunción. We’re going to play it one phase at a time. What Chile did was fantastic. We were very happy, it is good for rugby in the region. They earned it with merit, and I hope that for the next World Cup, South America’s position and the spots will be recognized.”
Josh Reeves (Brazil Head Coach)
“It is a historic rival and one that has been strengthening with an evolving system. It will be a true battle. As we are dealing with two matches, we are traveling with an eye on establishing a good advantage for the home match. If we defeat Paraguay, we need to be strong in November because the challenge in Dubai will be big.”
- Paraguay and Brazil are dreaming of Rugby World Cup debuts in 2027.
- Three South American teams are confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2027 and the Americas has a record five competitors.
- Brazil defeated the RWC 2027 qualified Hong Kong in 2024. Paraguay did not.
- The winner of the two match series, on aggregate, will join Belgium, Namibia and Samoa in repechage. The winner of the tournament in November will secure the last remaining place at Australia 2027.
- Paraguay and Brazil have played 30 times previously in capped rugby test matches. Brazil has 19 wins and Paraguay 11. The most recent Paraguayan victory was in 2015.
- Brazil have had less than ideal preparations; disagreement saw the coach fired days before the match.
- The most recent meeting between the teams saw Emiliano Caffera coaching Brazil to a record 77-17 win.
- 14 of Paraguay’s starting line-up played for Yacare in Super Rugby Americas 2025. Agustín Benítez did not.
- João Amaral starts in another back position. Having previously played for Brazil at fly half, fullback and wing he starts at outside center against Paraguay.
- Replacement Moisés Duque is the most-capped Brazilian of all-time with 65 caps. He debuted for Brazil against Colombia in 2008.
- Brazil’s line-up is Cobras-centric with Lucas Tranquez, Robert Tenório, João Amaral, Robson Morais, Thiago Oviedo, Lucas Spago, André Arruda, Matheus Cláudio, Cleber Dias, Hélder Lúcio, Endy Willian Pinheiro and Brendon Alves all starting.
- Ben Donald plays for Thames Valley in New Zealand while Antonio Zanatta plays for Mogliano in Italy. Donald was also a Cobra in 2025. Wilton Rebolo is back in Brazil following MLR but his club has folded.
- Admission to the match is free.
- The contest will be officiated by a team well known to the teams. Uruguayan Francisco González will be in the middle as the referee.
Os Tupis travel to Asunción with an eye on an historic opportunity of Rugby World Cup repechage; notwithstanding, the team needs to be humble and focus on the task at hand. Brazil has the fire power though Los Yakares frustrated Uruguay in Asunción earlier this year. Excessive heat is forecast for Asunción, Paraguay on Saturday. The hot and humid conditions will demand plenty from the players with their stamina will be pushed to the limit. Brazil are heavy favorites to win in Asunción.
PARAGUAY
15 Joaquín Mussi, 14 Arturo López, 13 Rafael Bareiro, 12 Ramiro Amarilla, 11 Juan González, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 8 Ignacio Martínez, 7 Ariel Núñez, 6 Francisco Bareiro, 5 Juan José Heisecke, 4 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 3 Enrique Quinteros, 2 Agustín Benítez, 1 Camilo Blasco
Replacements: 16 Jordi Chávez, 17 Gastón Salvi, 17 Cesár Pérez, 19 Adrián León, 20 Carlos Plate, 21 Diego Miño, 22 Facundo Paiva, 23 Gianfranco Parodi
BRAZIL
15 Lucas Tranquez, 14 Robert Tenório, 13 João Amaral, 12 Antonio Zanatta, 11 Robson Morais, 10 Thiago Oviedo, 9 Lucas Spago, 8 André Arruda, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 6 Cleber Dias (capt.), 5 Hélder Lúcio, 4 Ben Donald, 3 Wilton Rebolo, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 1 Brendon Alves
Replacements: 16 Henrique Ferreira, 17 Vicente Galvão, 18 Tiago Santos, 19 Gabriel Oliveira, 20 Adrio de Melo, 21 Renato Santos, 22 Gustavo Gobeti, 23 Moisés Duque
Date: Saturday, October 11
Venue: Estadio Héroes de Curupayty (Asunción, PY)
Kickoff: 4:00pm (PY); 5:00pm (Brasília)
Weather Forecast: Excessive Heat; 34°C; wind N (18 km/h)
Broadcasts: Disney +
Referee: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)
Assistant Referees: Juan Martínez (Argentina); Federico Longobardi (Argentina)
TMO: Ignacio Calle (Chile)
| vs HISTORY |
2024-08-08 – Brazil 77-17 Paraguay (São Paulo, BR)
2023-08-28 – Paraguay 22, Brazil 41 (Asunción, PY)
2022-11-26 – Paraguay 19, Brazil 34 (Asunción, PY)
2022-08-25 – Brazil 31, Paraguay 28 (Barranquilla, CO)
2021-06-26 – Brazil 29, Paraguay 0 (São José dos Campos, BR)
2019-05-11 – Paraguay 10, Brazil 66 (Asunción, PY)
2017-05-26 – Brazil 57, Paraguay 06 (São Paulo, BR)
2016-05-07 – Paraguay 21, Brazil 32 (Asunción, PY)
2015-05-10 – Brazil 10, Paraguay 21 (Bento Gonçalves, BR)
2014-11-29 – Brazil 21, Paraguay 13 (São José dos Campos, BR)
2014-05-10 – Paraguay 31, Brazil 24 (Asunción, PY)
2012-10-27 – Brazil 35, Paraguay 22 (São Paulo, BR)
2011-05-20 – Brazil 51, Paraguay 14 (Puerto Iguazú, AR)
2010-05-19 – Brazil 23, Paraguay 18 (La Reina, CL)
2009-05-02 – Brazil 36, Paraguay 21 (Montevideo, UY)
2008-06-26 – Paraguay 6, Brazil 15 (Asunción, PY)
2005-10-02 – Paraguay 45, Brazil 08 (Asunción, PY)
2004-10-16 – Brazil 17, Paraguay 22 (São Paulo, BR)
2003-05-23 – Paraguay 27, Brazil 16 (Asunción, PY)
2002-04-20 – Brazil 13, Paraguay 14 (Florianopolis, BR)
2001-09-07 – Paraguay 21, Brazil 13 (Asunción, PY)
1993-10-10 – Paraguay 48, Brazil 17 (Asunción, PY)
1991-09-07 – Brazil 33, Paraguay 06 (São Paulo, BR)
1989-10-10 – Brazil 40, Paraguay 11 (Montevideo, UY)
1981-05-23 – Paraguay 35, Brazil 3 (Montevideo, UY)
1979-10-12 – Brazil 16, Paraguay 06 (Santiago, CL)
1977-10-27 – Paraguay 25, Brazil 13 (Tucumán, AR)
1975-09-21 – Paraguay 06, Brazil 19 (Asunción, PY)
1973-10-13 – Brazil 22, Paraguay 03 (São Paulo, BR)
1971-10-10 – Paraguay 12, Brazil 06 (Montevideo, UY)
1970-09-05 – Paraguay 03, Brazil 12 (Asunción, PY)
