Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup: Roster, Forecast, and Statistics
The Paraguay national team is returning to the World Cup after a 16-year hiatus. This South American team has managed to assemble a powerful squad under the guidance of the experienced Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro. In the upcoming World Cup, we will see a physically strong Paraguay team, well prepared for intense conditions and capable of defeating any opponent.
In brief:
- Paraguay is one of the most stable teams in South America: from 1998 to 2010, the team qualified for five consecutive World Cups. Their best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 2010.
- The Paraguay squad includes Julio Enciso, Miguel Almiron and Gustavo Gomez, while Matias Villasanti, Angel and Lucas Romero were left out.
- Bookmakers rate Paraguay's chances of winning the World Cup at 0.3%, and their chances of reaching the final at 1%.
- In the group stage of the World Cup, Paraguay will play against the USA, Turkey, and Australia.
Paraguay Squad for the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gaston Oliveira (Olimpia), Roberto Fernandez (Cerro Porteño).
Defenders: Juan Caceres (Dynamo Moscow), Gustavo Velasquez (Cerro Porteño), Gustavo Gomez (Palmeiras), Junior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro), Jose Canale (Lanus), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Fabian Balbuena (Gremio).
Midfielders: Diego Gomez (Brighton), Mauricio (Palmeiras), Damian Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando), Adrian Cubas (Vancouver), Matias Galarza (Atlanta), Kaku (Al-Ain), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg).
Forwards: Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth), Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Gabriel Avalos (Independiente), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras).
Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Main Star
The main star of the Paraguay team is Miguel Almiron – an attacking midfielder known for his outstanding speed, technique, and tireless work ethic. From 2019 to 2025, Almiron shone for English club Newcastle, where he became one of the key players in attack. He currently plays for Atlanta United in the MLS. Not only is Miguel talented, but he is also experienced, he carries significant weight in the locker room, making him a true leader of the Paraguay team.
Main Problem of Paraguay
The main problem of the Paraguay team is the difficulty in organizing positional attacks. Due to a small number of creative midfielders, Paraguayans struggle with ball control and creating scoring opportunities in matches against defensive teams. Their main weapon is counterattacks and sharp attacks by the offensive leaders. And if the opponent doesn't open up, breaking through the defense proves to be a major challenge.
Young Talent
The main creative asset and future of the team is 22-year-old Strasbourg forward Julio Enciso. He had a stint at Brighton, where he made numerous useful contributions and scored a beautiful Manchester City's goal, worthy of the Puskas Award. Since September of last year, Enciso has been playing for the French Strasbourg. In the current season in Ligue 1, the forward has three goals and six assists. What's Julio's strength? He's fast and straightforward, capable of changing the game and turning the tide in the final third of the field. Enciso is a special talent and Paraguay's hope.
Who will miss the 2026 World Cup
The biggest loss for the Paraguay national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup was experienced midfielder Matias Villasanti. In August 2025, in a match for the Brazilian Gremio against Atletico Mineiro, he suffered a severe injury. Villasanti underwent surgery and missed about 9 months. Although by the end of May 2026 he had completed his recovery program and returned to training, the player did not manage to regain his match fitness and competitive condition. As a result, the coaching staff decided not to risk Matias's health and opted for fully prepared performers.
Form of the Paraguay national team
Qualification
The change of head coach in 2024 was decisive for the team in the fight for a ticket to the World Cup. In the qualifying tournament, Paraguay, under the leadership of Gustavo Alfaro, lost only once away - to Brazil. They achieved heroic draws in Bolivia (at an altitude of 4100 meters above sea level), in Ecuador (at an altitude of 2800 meters), as well as in the stifling heat and humidity of Barranquilla against Colombia. The ticket was secured by a tense draw (0:0) at home against Ecuador. The result caused euphoria, and the country's president, Santiago Pena, declared the following day a national holiday.
Recent results
The Paraguay national team did not play any official matches in 2026. The last matches at this level were played in September of the previous year as part of the final stage of the 2026 World Cup qualification.
Preparation for the World Cup
This calendar year, the Paraguay national team has played two friendly matches, which took place in March: they beat Greece (1:0) and lost to Morocco (1:2). As part of the preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Paraguay has scheduled a friendly sparring match with the Nicaragua team in early June.
World Cup 2026 match schedule
Date (CET time) | Opponent | Stadium | Odds for the win |
June 13, 03:00 | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, USA) | 3.77* | |
June 20, 05:00 | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, USA) | 3.49* | |
June 26, 04:00 | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, USA) | 2.17* |
Paraguay's chances of advancing from the group
Analysts and bookmakers estimate the probability of Paraguay's team advancing to the playoffs at 71%, and the chances of the team taking first place in Group D are about 20%. The high percentage for overall advancement from the group is explained by the new regulations for the 2026 World Cup (not only the top two teams advance to the playoffs, but also the 8 best teams out of 12 that take the third places).
Bookmaker odds for Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup
Bet | Odds |
Will advance from the group | 1.47 |
Will take 1st place in the group | 4.90 |
Will not take 1st place in the group | 1.15 |
Will not advance from the group | 2.54 |
Will win the World Cup | 150.0 |
Will reach the final | 35.00 |
Will reach the semi-finals | 15.00 |
Prediction for Paraguay's team
In Group D, there is no clear leader and against this backdrop, analysts predict an incredible battle between all four teams. Paraguay's team definitely looks like a favorite in the confrontation with Australia and has a good chance of grabbing points from the USA and Turkey, which have not been particularly shining in recent years on the world stage. In this situation, the bet on Paraguay's total of more than 3.5 points looks optimistic. The odds for this outcome are 1.85*.
More predictions for all 2026 World Cup matches will be available in the tournament section starting from June 9.
*Odds are approximate, may vary in different bookmakers and are current at the time of publication
FAQ
Who is the coach of the Paraguay national football team?
Gustavo Alfaro. He has been leading the national team since August 16, 2024.
Who is the captain of the Paraguay national football team?
Gustavo Gomez. The 33-year-old defender has been successfully playing in Brazil for Palmeiras for many years. Gomez started playing for the Paraguay national team on September 7, 2013, and has played 88 official matches for it.
How many times has Paraguay won the World Cup?
Not once. The team's best result in history is reaching the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Who is the top scorer in the history of the Paraguay national team?
Roque Santa Cruz. The legendary forward has scored 32 goals in 112 official matches for the national team during the period from 1999 to 2016.
Who will the Paraguay national team play against at the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay's opponents in the group stage of the World Cup will be the USA, Turkey, and Australia.
What are the odds for Paraguay's victory at the 2026 World Cup?
Bookmakers are offering odds of 150.00* for a victory by the Paraguay team.
