Paraguay's qualification for the 2026 World Cup was a turbulent journey marked by obstacles and pivotal moments in the demanding South American campaign, where every point is hard-earned and mistakes are rarely forgiven. Their start was alarming, yielding just a single point from the opening three matches. From there, however, Paraguay rediscovered the resilient defense that has long defined them and added enough attacking variety to grind out important wins. Home form in Asunción proved decisive, with a passionate crowd lifting the team through several high-pressure fixtures. On the closing match days, Paraguay sealed their place at the tournament with a goalless draw against Ecuador in Asunción.
The squad will be captained by Gustavo Gómez, the 33-year-old defender who plays for Brazilian club Palmeiras. He will form a defensive partnership with Fabián Balbuena. Also included is 32-year-old Miguel Almirón, whose leadership on and off the pitch makes him a key figure in Paraguay's ambitions for the tournament. Other important names in the squad include Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), Diego Gómez, Omar Alderete, and Julio Enciso.
Paraguay have been drawn into Group D. They make their 2026 World Cup debut on June 12 against the USA at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. On June 20, they face Türkiye at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. They remain in Santa Clara to close out the group stage against Australia on June 25.
Paraguay 2026 World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gatito Fernández (Cerro Porteño), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gastón Olveira (Olimpia)
Defenders: Juan Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow), Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño), Fabián Balbuena (Grêmio), Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), José Canale (Lanús), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres)
Midfielders: Damián Bobadilla (São Paulo), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United), Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra (Al Ain), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Maurício Magalhães (Palmeiras)
Forwards: Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras), Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth)
