It was a night of grit and celebration for Chilean women’s football as La Roja clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Rancagua on December 2, 2025, during the fourth round of the inaugural CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League. The win, secured by Yanara Aedo’s spectacular 33rd-minute goal, not only marked Chile’s second triumph in the tournament but also kept their World Cup dreams alive with a firm grip on the coveted repechage spot for the 2027 Brazil World Cup qualifiers.
Fans at El Teniente stadium witnessed a tense contest that swung between Chilean dominance and Paraguayan resilience. Early on, Chile pressed with intent, orchestrating their attacks through the midfield maestro Vaitiare Pardo. The breakthrough came when Pardo delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Aedo controlled and unleashed a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net, leaving goalkeeper Alicia Bobadilla rooted in place. The eruption of joy from the home crowd was palpable—after all, every point counts in this new era of South American women’s football.
“The goal was a big relief for us. We knew we had to take advantage of our chances, and thankfully, we did,” said Aedo after the match, echoing the team’s sense of urgency and determination. According to the official match report, this was Aedo’s second goal in as many matches, further cementing her status as a key player for Chile.
Chile’s head coach, Luis Mena, couldn’t hide his satisfaction post-game. “We dominated the first half, but Paraguay made it tough in the second. The girls showed heart and composure to see it through,” he told local media. Indeed, Chile’s first-half control was evident, with the midfield trio of Aedo, Millaray Cortés, and Nayadet López dictating the tempo and keeping Paraguay on the back foot.
Yet, football is rarely straightforward. Paraguay, coming off a dramatic home win in the previous round, refused to go quietly. The Albirrojas regrouped after halftime, launching a series of dangerous attacks that tested the mettle of Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler. Endler, who plies her trade at French giants OL Lyon, was called into action on several occasions as Paraguay’s forwards Claudia Martínez and Lice Chamorro threatened to level the score. The Chilean defense, marshaled by Camila Sáez and Fernanda Pinilla, held firm under mounting pressure.
The turning point arrived in the 69th minute when Danna Garcete, Paraguay’s midfield anchor, saw red after a second yellow card for a foul on Aedo. Reduced to ten players, Paraguay’s task became even steeper, but to their credit, they continued to press for an equalizer. “We never stopped believing, even with ten,” said Paraguay coach Herminio Barrios. “But Chile was solid at the back and deserved their win.”
Chile, meanwhile, looked to seal the match on the counter. Camila Sáez came agonizingly close with a powerful header, only for Bobadilla to deny her. Substitute Mary Valencia also had a golden opportunity in a one-on-one, but the Paraguayan keeper once again kept the visitors in the game. Despite these chances, the scoreline remained unchanged, and the final whistle brought relief and celebration for the hosts.
This victory lifts Chile to seven points, tying them with Colombia and Argentina, but sitting in fourth place on goal difference. The CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League, a groundbreaking new competition replacing the old Copa América qualifiers, has injected fresh energy into women’s football across the continent. For the first time, nine national teams—Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela—are locked in a round-robin battle for two direct World Cup spots and two more via the intercontinental repechage. Brazil, as World Cup hosts, are not participating in the qualifiers.
The format ensures every match carries weight, with each team playing eight games—four at home and four away—across nine FIFA dates between October 2025 and June 2026. The stakes couldn’t be higher: the top two finishers in the group will book their tickets directly to Brazil 2027, while the third and fourth teams will fight for three additional World Cup berths in the repechage. With 36 matches in total, the Nations League is already proving to be a crucial platform for the development of women’s football in South America, providing regular, high-stakes competition and invaluable international experience for the region’s best players.
Elsewhere in the fourth round, Argentina made headlines with a thumping 8-0 victory over Bolivia at Florencio Sola stadium. The Albiceleste’s goals came courtesy of Paulina Gramaglia, Kishi Núñez, Florencia Bonsegundo (each with two), Aldana Cometti, and Francisca Altgelt. Argentina’s win propelled them to second in the standings with seven points, just behind Venezuela, who lead with eight after a 6-0 rout of Peru. Colombia, tied with Chile and Argentina on seven points, rounds out a fiercely contested top four, while Ecuador sits just behind on five. Paraguay, despite their fighting spirit, remain in sixth with three points, ahead of Peru and Uruguay, with Bolivia anchored at the bottom.
The next round of fixtures, scheduled for April 2026, promises even more drama. Chile will host Argentina in a high-stakes clash, followed by a trip to Colombia—two matches that could define their World Cup journey. Paraguay, meanwhile, will look to bounce back at home against Ecuador before traveling to face Peru. With so much still to play for, the race for Brazil 2027 qualification is heating up fast.
As the dust settles on another gripping round, Chilean fans can savor a victory that keeps their dreams alive. The path to the World Cup remains challenging, but with performances like this, La Roja have shown they’re ready for the fight. The CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League is delivering on its promise: every match matters, every goal counts, and the road to Brazil is wide open.