Paraguay are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010, and they got there the hard way. A faltering qualifying campaign was rescued by Gustavo Alfaro, the well-travelled Argentine coach who restored the traditional Albirroja toughness and dragged Paraguay to an automatic place, the highlight a famous home win over Brazil. Captain Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras leads a defence built to frustrate, Miguel Almiron brings pace and Premier League pedigree, Brighton's Diego Gomez is the rising star, and Julio Enciso adds unpredictability around striker Antonio Sanabria. Drawn into Group D with co-hosts the United States, Turkey and Australia, this is the squad, the story, the fixtures and the case for a knockout return.
Paraguay are organised, physical and dangerous on the break, built around an experienced defensive core and a clutch of attackers playing across Europe and the Americas. These are the names the campaign turns on.
The leader. Paraguay's captain and most experienced player, the Palmeiras centre-back is a serial winner in South American club football. Commanding in the air and relentless, he is the foundation of a defence built to frustrate stronger sides.
The familiar face. The former Newcastle United winger, now with Atlanta United, brings relentless running and final-third quality. His pace in transition is central to how Paraguay turn defence into attack.
The breakout. The Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder is Paraguay's most exciting young talent, an all-action box-to-box player with a goal in him. His winner against Brazil in qualifying was a defining moment of the campaign.
The spark. A skilful, unpredictable forward with Premier League experience, now at Strasbourg, Enciso is the player most likely to produce a moment of individual brilliance, from a jinking dribble to a long-range strike.
The focal point. An experienced centre-forward with a long Serie A grounding, Sanabria leads the line, holding the ball up and finishing the chances that Paraguay's counter-attacks create. His goals were important in qualifying.
The fixer. The vastly experienced Argentine, who took Ecuador to the 2022 World Cup, inherited a struggling Paraguay and rebuilt them into a disciplined, hard-to-beat unit, completing one of qualifying's great turnarounds.
Gustavo Alfaro named a largely overseas-based 26, leaning on players in Brazil, Argentina and Europe and only a handful from the domestic league. Below is the full squad by position; club listings can shift over the summer window.
Alfaro built a squad in the classic Paraguayan mould: physical, experienced at the back and quick in transition. Captain Gustavo Gomez and Omar Alderete give the defence a serious edge, Andres Cubas and Mathias Villasanti screen in front, and the attacking talent of Almiron, Diego Gomez, Enciso and Sanabria carries the goal threat. Club listings can change over the summer window.
Three threads define Paraguay's 2026 campaign: the end of a long absence, a coach who changed everything, and a famous night against Brazil.
The drought ends. Paraguay had not reached a World Cup since 2010, when they made the quarter-finals. Three straight failed campaigns followed before Gustavo Alfaro finally brought the Albirroja back to the biggest stage.
The turnaround. Paraguay began qualifying slowly, but Alfaro restored organisation, belief and a defensive identity. A team that looked like missing out surged to claim an automatic place with games to spare.
The statement. A home win over Brazil, settled by a Diego Gomez goal, was the defining result of the campaign, proof that Alfaro's Paraguay could beat anyone on their day and a springboard to qualification.
Paraguay were drawn into Group D with co-hosts the United States, Turkey and Australia. The USA are the seeds and home favourites, so Paraguay look set for a tight three-way fight with Turkey and Australia for second place and a strong third-placed finish. All three of Paraguay's games are in California.
Opening against the hosts in front of a partisan SoFi Stadium crowd is the toughest possible start, which makes the middle game against Turkey and the finale against Australia look decisive for second place. For the full picture of all 104 games, see the WorldCuply.com match schedule, and read our guides to Group D rivals the United States, Turkey and Australia.
Paraguay are unseeded and unfashionable, but they are precisely the kind of side that can spring a surprise in a wide-open group:
The opener against the United States is daunting, but Paraguay will fancy their chances against Turkey and Australia. Reach the knockouts and this is a team few would relish drawing, defensively stubborn and lethal on the break.
Paraguay are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Paraguay's Group D opponents and co-hosts, the golden generation led by Christian Pulisic.
Read the USA guide ›Paraguay's Group D rivals, the gifted young generation led by Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz.
Read the Turkiye guide ›Paraguay's final group opponents, the Socceroos and their knack for reaching the knockouts.
Read the Australia guide ›All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team.
Open the schedule ›This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm Paraguay's squad, coach, qualification, group and fixtures:
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