Giménez, Navarro return to national teams for World Cup Qualifying
South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are underway once again and Chicago Fire’s Gastón Giménez and Miguel Ángel Navarro will both have big roles in important games for their countries facing off against traditional powers such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
After strong performances for the Fire against New York Red Bulls, Inter Miami, and Charlotte FC, Gastón Giménez has been called up for the Paraguayan national football team for what could be his tenth and eleventh appearances for his country. Born in Formosa, Argentina, and having formerly represented la Albiceleste in one appearance against Mexico in November 2018, this game will be very important for him.
“I didn’t expect that moment. It was a surprise, and it was beautiful. We got to talk a little bit, not too much. The truth is I’m very happy,” said Giménez of his conversation with Paraguay head coach, Daniel Garnero. “I feel psychologically and physically much better.”
The game against Argentina will be two days shy of having marked two years since he last wore the Paraguayan jersey in an international game.
“I saw him very well… we see him [competing] at a very high level and in a very good head space,” Garnero told Paraguayan media. “He is a footballer that can collaborate a lot.”
With one goal in nine appearances, Giménez will be looking to make the difference in what would be a historical upset over the current world number one and defending World Cup Champions, Argentina. Argentina has defeated Paraguay in qualifying since 2013, drawing both matches in the last cycle and losing 1-0 at home in 2016.
Having debuted in 2022 against Argentina, Miguel Ángel Navarro was also called in to represent Venezuela in qualifiers. They’ll face off against Brazil on the 12th of October in what could mark Navarro’s seventh appearance for Venezuela; Navarro is to be in the starting eleven playing away at the Arena Pantanal stadium in Cuiabá, Brazil. After playing the full 90 minutes in his last three appearances, he will hold a key role in this defense, especially when it comes to containing Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. Venezuela are seeking to qualify for their first-ever World Cup.
Both Paraguay and Venezuela currently sit in a qualifying spot for the 2026 World Cup in the CONMEBOL standings, bolstering the importance of the upcoming matches. The Albirroja’s match against Argentina at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires will be played on October 12th at 6:00 pm CT. The game will be available on ViX Sports and Universo. Only five days later on Tuesday, October 17th, Paraguay will be at home playing against Bolivia at 5:30 pm CT in the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in the country’s capital, Asunción.
Venezuela’s match against Brazil will be held at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Brazil. The game will kick off at 7:30 pm CT on October 12th and can also be watched on ViX. On the second matchday of this international break, Venezuela will be playing against Chile at home in the Estadio Monumental de Maturín. This match will be played on Tuesday, October 17th, at 4:00 pm CT.
