Nation dossier · Group D · In contention
Paraguay
Republic of Paraguay
Latest Turkey 0–1 Paraguay · Group D
Title probability
0.0%
as of 2026-06-25
Overview
Paraguay return to the World Cup stage after missing out on Qatar 2022, ending a painful absence that wounded a proud footballing nation. Under a revitalized setup, the Albirroja rediscovered their grit and qualified from the brutal CONMEBOL marathon.
This is a side built on the traditional Paraguayan virtues — organization, physicality and resolute defending — but laced with a new generation of attacking talent emerging in Europe. Expectations are measured but hopeful: simply being back is a triumph, and a knockout run would electrify Asunción.
Capital
Asunción
Population
6,700,000
Confederation
CONMEBOL
FIFA code
PAR
From Wikipedia
Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country located in the central region of South America. It borders Bolivia to the northwest and north, Brazil to the northeast and east, and Argentina to the southeast, south, and west. Paraguay has access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway. The country is governed…
Source: Wikipedia →Squad
- 112caps
Roberto Fernández
Belgrano · Emerging first-choice keeper
- 126caps
Carlos Coronel
New York Red Bulls · MLS shot-stopper option
- 233caps
Ángel Romero
Cerro Porteño · Domestic backup goalkeeper
- 268caps
Gustavo Gómez
Palmeiras · Captain and defensive rock
- 345caps
Omar Alderete
Getafe · Aggressive ball-playing center-back
- 450caps
Fabián Balbuena
Dynamo Moscow · Experienced commanding defender
- 542caps
Junior Alonso
Krasnodar · Composed left-sided defender
- 630caps
Robert Rojas
River Plate · Energetic attacking full-back
- 1318caps
Juan Cáceres
Atlético Mineiro · Versatile defensive cover
- 1415caps
Agustín Sández
Boca Juniors · Marauding left-back option
- 1520caps
Blas Riveros
Olimpia · Reliable overlapping defender
- 718caps
Ramón Sosa
Nottingham Forest · Pacey wing threat
- 828caps
Andrés Cubas
Vancouver Whitecaps · Tenacious holding midfielder
- 1025caps
Diego Gómez
Brighton · Creative driving playmaker
- 1635caps
Mathías Villasanti
Grêmio · Box-to-box engine
- 1740caps
Richard Sánchez
Club América · Composed deep distributor
- 1812caps
Damián Bobadilla
São Paulo · Promising young midfielder
- 2022caps
Julio Enciso
Ipswich Town · Explosive attacking spark
- 948caps
Antonio Sanabria
Torino · Hard-working veteran striker
- 1160caps
Miguel Almirón
Atlanta United · Talismanic attacking leader
- 1916caps
Adam Bareiro
San Lorenzo · Powerful penalty-box finisher
- 2110caps
Gabriel Ávalos
Argentinos Juniors · Aerial target man
- 2230caps
Alejandro Romero Gamarra
Tigres UANL · Versatile attacking option
Model
as of 2026-06-25Exp. points
4.16
Proj. finish
26.8
Seed Elo
1690
Title-probability trajectory
Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots
Matches
History
2022
Did not qualify / Group stage
Culture
Football culture
Paraguayan football prizes toughness, sacrifice and never-say-die spirit, embodied historically by legendary goalkeeper-captain José Luis Chilavert. Domestic rivals Olimpia and Cerro Porteño dominate a fervent club scene, and the national team commands unshakeable devotion.
Did you know
- Guaraní is an official language spoken by most Paraguayans alongside Spanish.
- Goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert famously scored goals from free-kicks and penalties.
- Paraguay is one of only two landlocked countries in South America.
- The Itaipú Dam was long the world's largest hydroelectric power producer.
- Asunción is among the oldest cities in South America, founded in 1537.