La Roja Opens 2023 with a Test Against Paraguay

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La Roja is set to begin the year 2023 with a bold challenge against the Paraguayan national team, as coach Eduardo Berizzo gauges early form ahead of a new cycle. After more than four months away from the field, Chile’s squad returns to competitive action, facing Paraguay in what marks the team’s first home gathering since the 2-0 loss to Uruguay in San Carlos de Apoquindo that closed the Qatar 2022 qualification window.

This friendly represents a valuable rehearsal for Chile as it tunes its approach before the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kick off in September. The team, affectionately known as La Roja or the “Everyone’s Team,” will have the chance to secure its first win under Berizzo’s leadership, a period that has seen five losses, two draws, and a tally of two goals scored against eight conceded to date. The national side has not tasted victory since February 2022, when they edged Bolivia 3-2 at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz under the guidance of Martín Lasarte.

Charting La Roja’s path to the World Cup, the pre-season record shows a long-standing competitive rhythm. In total, Chile has played 22 warm-ups or friendlies, achieving 12 wins, six losses, and four draws, a history that includes a memorable 3-2 triumph in September 2015 at the National Stadium under Jorge Sampaoli’s tenure. This upcoming match against Paraguay is framed not only as a friendly but as a strategic step in shaping the squad’s identity for a demanding qualifying campaign. — Goal

Fans can watch the Chile vs Paraguay match on TNT Sports HD and TNT 2, with streaming available via Estadio TNT Sports. The broadcast is also accessible on mobile devices through TNT GO. For subscribers to TNTHD or TNT2, the game can be streamed through Movistar Play, Entel TV, DirecTV GO, Claro Video, VTR Play, and Zapping. In addition, Chilevisión will carry the game on open television, with coverage on multiple signals depending on regional cable or satellite providers:

  • VTR: 21 (SD in Santiago) – 711 (HD)
  • DIRECTV: 151 (SD) – 1151 (HD)
  • ENTEL: 66 (HD)
  • DIRECT: 55 (SD)
  • GTD/TELSUR: 27 (SD)
  • MOVISTAR: 121 (SD) – 811 (HD)
  • YOU SEE: 57 (SD)
  • ZAPPING: 21 (HD)

As Chile prepares for a broader campaign, the Paraguayan test offers Berizzo a chance to experiment with formations, personnel, and pressing schemes that could define the team entering the crucial early-stage qualifiers. The squad’s depth will be tested, with a focus on balancing attack with disciplined defense, maintaining intensity across the full ninety minutes, and building understanding among midfield and forward lines. This fixture also serves as an opportunity to evaluate how new players integrate with established pillars of the team as they pursue consistent results on home soil and abroad. — Goal

The match schedule and broadcast details reflect the ongoing effort to bring La Roja closer to fans in both Chile and the broader football community in the Americas. For supporters, this game is more than a ceremonial opener: it is a glimpse into the evolving strategy under Berizzo and a marker of the team’s ambition to compete at a high level during the 2026 World Cup cycle. The atmosphere surrounding the fixture suggests a fresh chapter for Chile, one that blends experience with the energy of emerging talents ready to contribute to a storied national program. — Goal

In sum, the Chilean side will use this encounter with Paraguay to calibrate its approach ahead of the regional qualifiers. The result may set the tone for how Berizzo shapes the squad in the months ahead, guiding selections, tactics, and the collective mindset required to challenge South America’s best on the road and at home. With a supportive fan base and a renewed sense of purpose, La Roja looks to translate preparation into performance as the road to the 2026 World Cup begins to take form. — Goal

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