Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in 2010—and there’s hope a similar run can be put together here.
Four straight World Cup appearances at the turn of the century were followed by nearly two decades of underwhelming results, but a mix of experienced veterans—Miguel Almirón and Gustavo Gomez—and zesty young talents—Julio Enciso and Diego Gómez—have La Albirroja confident of making an impact.
Spoiling the Party
Paraguay will look to play the villain and spoil the party for the United States. Defeating the hosts in Group D would get many Paraguayans to buy into the notion that they could be contenders.
Alfaro’s Impact
Paraguay’s return to the World Cup was hanging in the balance after mustering just five points from the first 18 possible in qualifying.
But impressive wins over Brazil and Argentina under new boss Gustavo Alfaro helped Paraguay finish a comfortable sixth in the CONMEBOL standings, earning automatic passage through to the World Cup without needing to go through the playoffs.
After leading a young Ecuador side in 2022, Alfaro infuses La Albirroja with some much needed World Cup experience.
The Argentine has built a team that is extremely hard to beat, instantly uplifting Paraguay’s dressing-room and squeezing every ounce of talent at his disposal like he’s routinely done across his managerial career.
Alfaro’s biggest strength is that he hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel with Paraguay. Its biggest strength is a gritty backline that is difficult to penetrate, and an outstanding work ethic is coupled with a real understanding of shape and defensive communication.
Paraguay won’t dominate possession very often, but playing with a target man up front (step forward, Antonio Sanabria) allows the pressure to be relieved and its technically gifted attacking midfielders often benefit from the space afforded to them. If you’re looking for the definition of a moments team, look no further.
Key Players
- X-Factor: Just a teenager watching from home when Paraguay last featured in a World Cup, Almirón leads his team’s long-awaited return to the competition, where his production and creativity up top will make or break La Albirroja’s campaign.
- Breakout Star: A rising star MLS fans will remember playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, Diego Gómez is now a Premier League regular at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Brimming with energy, technical skill and unexpected physicality, he packs a powerful shot too, especially from long range.
Kit Reveal
Paraguay’s traditional red and white vertical striped home kit is back, with a dusty element reflecting the clay soil found in the country.
The away jersey is unlike anything Paraguay have worn before—a dark base with splashes of light blue and white shadows, creating an almost optical illusion effect.
The center back pairing of Gustavo Gómez and Omar Alderete is the backbone of one of the best defensive sides in South America. With Júnior Alonso and Juan José Cáceres guarding the flanks, Alfaro’s backline ha