Paraguay – Team Profile | FIFA World Cup 2026

Paraguay 2026 World Cup – Squad, Fixtures & Profile

Paraguay’s national football team, known as La Albirroja (The Red and White) or Los Guaraníes, returns to the FIFA World Cup after a 16-year absence, marking their ninth appearance overall. They qualified by finishing sixth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, securing one of the automatic spots in the expanded 48-team tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Currently ranked 39th in the FIFA world rankings as of December 2025, Paraguay enters with a blend of defensive resilience and attacking flair under Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro.

This qualification, achieved with 28 points from 18 matches, has reignited national pride, especially after missing the last three editions.

Historical Performance in the FIFA World Cup

Paraguay Squad World Cup South Africa 2010

Paraguay’s World Cup history dates back to the inaugural 1930 tournament, where they reached the group stage. Their best performance came in 2010, advancing to the quarter-finals before a narrow loss to eventual champions Spain.

Other notable runs include round-of-16 appearances in 1986, 1998, and 2002. The team has often punched above its weight, relying on gritty defence and set-pieces, but has never progressed beyond the last eight. Recent continental form includes a quarter-final exit in the 2024 Copa América, signalling a rebuild under Alfaro.

  • 1930 – Group Stage
  • 1950 – Group Stage
  • 1958 – Group Stage
  • 1986 – Round of 16
  • 1998 – Round of 16
  • 2002 – Round of 16
  • 2006 – Group Stage
  • 2010 – Quarter-finals
  • 2026 – TBD

Qualification Path for 2026

Paraguay navigated the rigorous 18-match CONMEBOL qualifiers, finishing sixth with 7 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses, accumulating 28 points. Key results included a 1-0 victory over Brazil and a crucial draw against Argentina, showcasing their defensive organisation. The campaign concluded in September 2025, with Miguel Almirón playing a pivotal role in the final matches.

Coach: Gustavo Alfaro

Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay national team coach

Gustavo Alfaro, an Argentine manager with over three decades of experience, took charge in 2024 after successful stints with Ecuador (leading them to the 2022 World Cup) and Costa Rica.

Known for his tactical discipline and motivational skills, Alfaro emphasises compact defending and quick counters.

Paraguay Potential 2026 World Cup Squad 

Goalkeepers

  • Roberto Fernández (Cerro Porteño)
  • Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo)
  • Aldo Pérez (Guaraní)

Defenders

  • Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras)
  • Omar Alderete (Sunderland)
  • Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro)
  • Juan Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow)
  • Blas Riveros (Cerro Porteño)
  • Alexis Duarte (Santos)
  • Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño)
  • Alan Benítez (Internacional)

Midfielders

  • Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
  • Julio Enciso (Strasbourg)
  • Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion)
  • Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Al Ain)
  • Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras)
  • Mathías Villasanti (Grêmio)
  • Braian Ojeda (Real Salt Lake)
  • Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Forwards

  • Ángel Romero (Corinthians)
  • Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese)
  • Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia)
  • Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente)

Tactics and Playing Style

Alfaro typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation, prioritising a solid backline and rapid transitions. Paraguay excels in set-pieces and counter-attacks, with Almirón and Enciso providing width and creativity. Their strength lies in defensive compactness, conceding few goals in qualifiers, but vulnerabilities include occasional lack of midfield creativity against possession-dominant teams.

Group Stage Draw and Fixtures

Paraguay is in Group D alongside the United States, Australia, and the winner of UEFA Playoff Path C (one of Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia, or Turkey). This draw offers a balanced challenge, with Paraguay favoured against some opponents.

  • June 12, 2026 — United States vs. Paraguay
    SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles — 9:00 p.m. (ET)
  • June 19, 2026 — UEFA Playoff C vs. Paraguay
    Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara — 12:00 a.m. (ET).
  • June 24, 2026 — Paraguay vs. Australia
    Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara — 10:00 p.m. (ET).

Expectations and Outlook

Expectations are modest but optimistic, with a round-of-16 berth as the primary target—matching their 2010 feat. Analysts highlight their defensive prowess as key to upsets, though facing hosts USA poses a stern test.

Challenges include injuries to key attackers and adapting to the tournament’s intensity, but Alfaro’s experience could propel them further. A strong showing would boost Paraguayan football’s global profile.

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