The Chilean national team, La Roja, will return to the Estadio Monumental as they prepare for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay. This match is set to be a key warm-up ahead of the South American qualifiers, giving the squad a chance to test tactics, cohesion, and fitness before the demanding campaign begins later in the year.
On Monday, March 27, the Chilean side will review its strategy for a campaign aimed at reaching the FIFA World Cup. The friendly against Paraguay serves as a vital stepping stone in the buildup for a long road toward qualification, with the moment carrying extra significance for a team hungry to showcase progress and readiness on the continental stage.
The venue choice matters. The game will be staged at the famed Monumental Stadium, a venue that has become a focal point for Chilean football. The decision to play there aligns with broader scheduling needs, as Club Nacional de Football is undergoing renovations in preparation for major upcoming events, and Santiago’s San Carlos de Apoquindo continues to undergo improvements. As a result, some of La Rojaa s most recent home matches have been staged in different settings while the team continues to solidify its home base and fan support in the capital region.
The history of friendlies between Chile and Paraguay
When did Chile last play in the Monumental?
Chile had not taken the field at Macul in a competitive or friendly match since September 2, 2021, during the Qatar 2022 qualifying phase. On that occasion, the team led by Martín Lasarte faced Brazil and succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat, with Everton Ribeiro delivering the decisive moment for the Canarinha. The lineup for Chile featured Claudio Bravo in goal, a defensive backline anchored by Paulo Díaz, Gary Medel, and Guillermo Maripán, and midfielders such as Mauricio Isla, Charles Aránguiz, Erick Pulgar, Arturo Vidal, and Eugenio Mena behind a front three of Eduardo Vargas and Iván Morales. The match offered a clear glimpse of the challenges posed by Brazil on the road to the World Cup and underscored the need for the squad to sharpen its game plan.
In the weeks that followed, Chile secured wins against Paraguay and Venezuela at Las Condes, while encounters against Ecuador and Argentina were staged at other venues, reflecting the evolving home schedule as the national team continued preparations. The last home appearance in the official lead-up to the World Cup occurred on March 29, 2022, when Chile fell 2-0 to Uruguay on the final matchday of the preliminary phase. Those results formed part of a testing period where the team looked to identify a consistent line-up and tactical approach before the ultimate quest to reach the global tournament.
La Roja’s calendar on its way to the World Cup
As the squad maps its route toward the World Cup, coaches and players focus on balancing tactical experimentation with the need for stability and results. The central objective remains clear: build a compact defense, inject creativity into midfield, and maintain attacking threat through a cohesive, disciplined approach. The Paraguay friendly is positioned as a practical step in this process, offering a live setting to evaluate emerging combinations, test set-piece routines, and gauge the readiness of each player under competitive pressure. The upcoming schedule will continue to blend domestic preparation with strategic overseas camps, ensuring that the team arrives at key qualifiers equipped to compete at the highest level and with confidence in its evolving identity as a national side.