Japan vs Paraguay Predictions

• Japan have won their last four games against Paraguay.
• Japan are unbeaten in 16 home games, winning 14.
• Paraguay won just one of their nine away World Cup qualifiers.

Japan and Paraguay step up World Cup prep

Japan and Paraguay have both secured their spots at World Cup 2026 and the two meet in a warm-up fixture at the Panasonic Stadium Suita on Friday.

Home advantage could be the deciding factor here and a Japan victory looks the best option for our main bet.

The Blue Samurai came through qualifying without losing a home game and their only defeat in the entire process came in Australia, when they had already booked their spot in the tournament proper as group winners.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side tend to be strong on Japanese soil irrespective of the competition as they have 14 wins and two draws in their last 16 home games, while Paraguay have a mixed road record. The South Americans managed just one win in qualifying away from home in nine attempts, although they did draw five of those games.

Japan have a strong recent record against Los Guaraníes as they have won each of the last four meetings, having managed just one victory in the first seven head-to-head games, although the last meeting between these sides came in 2022.

Japan have what looks a stronger squad on paper and with home advantage they can justify their favouritism. Paraguay have failed to score in three of their last six trips and Japan have three clean sheets in their last four games, including a 0-0 draw against Mexico in the USA in September, so the hosts can win without conceding.

Paraguay’s defence is fairly solid, however, and a 1-0 win for Japan is the correct score pick. Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda has made a strong start to the season with eight goals in as many Eredivisie games and he looks the most likely scorer, having hit 14 goals in 32 games so far for Japan.