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Arun - June 2, 2026
Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010 and their ninth appearance overall. Their qualification story is one of the most remarkable in CONMEBOL history; they started the campaign with one point from three games, looked destined to miss out, and then ground their way to sixth place on the final day through sheer resilience and tactical discipline. They beat Argentina. They beat Brazil. That is how Paraguay do things.
Nobody gives Paraguay much credit before tournaments. They are not glamorous, they do not have a superstar that fills back pages, and they do not play the kind of football that wins neutrals.
What they have is something rarer; a team that is almost impossible to beat when they are organized, a captain who leads by example in the toughest conditions in world football, and a manager who understands exactly what this group of players needs to produce.
Paraguay is drawn in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside co-hosts USA, Turkey and Australia. The opening game against the USA in Los Angeles on June 12 is the defining fixture. For all our World Cup 2026 predictions and analysis visit LeagueLane.
Appearances: 9 | Best finish: Quarterfinals (2010) | Back after 16 years
Paraguay have appeared at nine World Cups and are one of South America’s most consistent qualifiers across the decades. Their golden era came between 1998 and 2010 when they reached the knockout rounds at every tournament.
Argentine · Appointed August 2024 · Former Ecuador, Costa Rica manager · Age 63
Gustavo Alfaro is one of South America’s most experienced international managers, with previous stints at Ecuador and Costa Rica giving him a deep understanding of how to organize a team defensively and get the most from players who are not individually at the top level. Since taking charge in August 2024, he has built Paraguay into what one analyst described as a defensive powerhouse; organized, physical and extremely difficult to break down.
His philosophy is pragmatic and unapologetically so; concede as little as possible, disrupt the opposition’s rhythm, and take your chances when they come. Paraguay scored just 14 goals in 18 qualifying matches but conceded only 10, giving them one of the best defensive records in CONMEBOL. Alfaro is not interested in beautiful football. He is interested in results, and his record shows he knows how to get them.
Formation: 4-4-2 (with 4-2-3-1 variant)
Alfaro sets Paraguay up in a compact 4-4-2 built around defensive solidity and quick transitions. The double pivot in central midfield shields the back four aggressively, closing down space and disrupting the opposition’s build-up before they can create danger. The wide midfielders tuck in to create a narrow defensive block, forcing opponents wide where they are less dangerous.
Going forward, Paraguay are direct and effective. The ball moves quickly to Almiron or Enciso, who carry it forward at pace. Antonio Sanabria works the channels as the lone striker or in a two-striker combination, holding up play and bringing midfield runners into the game. Around 60% of their qualifying victories came by a 1-0 scoreline; they know exactly what they are and they execute it with discipline.
Against the USA in the opener, Alfaro will sit deep, absorb pressure, and look to punish the Americans on the counter-attack. The USA’s back three can be exposed by pace in behind, and Almiron’s ability to run at defenders is exactly the profile that causes that system problems. Paraguay will not come to Los Angeles to be entertained. They will come to win.
Centre-back · Palmeiras · Age 33 | Paraguay caps: 88
Paraguay’s captain and the foundation of everything Alfaro has built. Gomez at Palmeiras is one of the most decorated defenders in South American club football; physically dominant, commanding in the air, and a leader whose authority in the dressing room extends well beyond his performances on the pitch. With 88 caps he is the most experienced player in the squad by a considerable margin. He was part of the Paraguay sides that suffered the lean years without World Cup qualification, and the motivation to perform at this tournament is deeply personal. When Gomez is at his best, Paraguay’s defensive record speaks for itself.
Attacking midfielder / Winger · Atlanta United · Age 32 | Paraguay caps: 60+
The most recognizable name in the Paraguay squad and the one opponent defenses need to track from first whistle to last. Almiron returned to Atlanta United from Newcastle United and has rediscovered the form that made him one of the most exciting players in the Premier League during his best seasons. In MLS he contributed 10 goal involvements in his last season. His pace, directness and ability to drive at defenders makes him Paraguay’s most dangerous attacking weapon, and in Alfaro’s counter-attacking system he is given the freedom to exploit space in transition. He arrives at what is likely his last World Cup with something to prove.
Attacking midfielder · Strasbourg · Age 21 | Paraguay caps: 20+
The most exciting young talent in Paraguayan football and the player who gives the squad an unpredictability that purely defensive teams lack. Enciso at Strasbourg has developed significantly since his time at Brighton, and at 21 he is only just entering what should be his peak years. His technical quality, dribbling and eye for goal from midfield positions give Paraguay a dimension that opponents cannot always plan for. Alongside Almiron, he gives Alfaro a creative partnership that is capable of producing moments against any defense. This World Cup could be the making of him.
Midfielder · Brighton and Hove Albion · Age 22 | Paraguay caps: 25+
The youngest of Paraguay’s key players and the one who represents the program’s future. Gomez at Brighton has developed into a technically assured, progressive midfielder who can carry the ball, find passes in tight spaces and contribute goals from deep positions. He scored the winner against Brazil in qualifying; a result that arguably saved Paraguay’s campaign. At 22, playing Premier League football regularly, he brings a technical quality to the Paraguay midfield that gives Alfaro options beyond pure defensive organization. When Gomez is on the ball, Paraguay look like a different team.
Paraguay are the most underestimated team in Group D. The market will price them as outsiders, but a side that beat Argentina and Brazil in qualifying, conceded just 10 goals in 18 CONMEBOL matches, and is managed by one of South America’s most experienced tacticians is not a side to dismiss lightly.
The betting angle is Paraguay to earn at least one point from the USA opener. Playing against a home crowd and a tactically ambitious Pochettino side, Paraguay’s counter-attacking structure and defensive discipline is exactly the profile that gives high-pressing teams problems. A draw in Los Angeles is genuinely realistic and would be strong value.
Their realistic ceiling is the round of 32; two wins from three games is achievable if Turkey and Australia do not match their defensive discipline. The USA match sets the tone. If Paraguay can avoid defeat on June 12, they stay in contention for the entire group stage.
Group D Coverage
Read our full World Cup 2026 Group D Preview and all our World Cup 2026 predictions and analysis on LeagueLane.
