echoing throughout.
This article is part of the 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a collaboration among leading media organizations from the 48 countries qualified for the tournament. Previews are being published daily in anticipation of the tournament’s start on June 11.
Strategic Overview
Paraguay secured its spot in football’s premier event by returning to its foundational strengths: defensive solidity and collective effort. For years, the team struggled with a possession-based style that yielded no success in either defense or scoring. In August 2024, Gustavo Alfaro took the helm with a clear directive.
“Paraguayan DNA, intensity and clean sheets. That’s what will take us to the World Cup.”
His approach proved effective.
Alfaro has consistently utilized a 4-4-2 formation in nearly all matches, opting for a back five only in the challenging high-altitude encounters against Ecuador and Bolivia. At the World Cup, he is expected to stick with the traditional 4-4-2, possibly incorporating a 4-2-3-1 on occasion.
Since taking over from Daniel Garnero, who was dismissed following a disappointing Copa América, Alfaro has revitalized the squad. From his debut match against Uruguay in Montevideo, Paraguay displayed a transformed performance. Victories against Brazil and Argentina at home further convinced even the most doubtful observers that the “If I want to build an offensive team, the first thing I have to do is work on defensive discipline, otherwise my ass is going to be out of here.” Albirroja was legitimate.
Throughout the qualification phase, Paraguay’s only away defeat under Alfaro came against Brazil. They achieved commendable draws in Bolivia, located at 4,100 meters above sea level, Ecuador at 2,800 meters, and in the oppressive heat of Barranquilla against Colombia. Their qualification was confirmed with a tense 0-0 draw at home against Ecuador, which sparked national celebration and prompted President Santiago Peña to declare the following day a public holiday.
Paraguay’s major strengths lie in their physicality and intensity, yet they are also capable of fluid football, effectively building from the back and leveraging the exceptional talent of Julio Enciso.
Coach’s Profile
Gustavo Alfaro has driven the national team’s resurgence after years of underperformance. He retired from playing in 1992 at the age of 30 to focus on coaching. Known for emphasizing toughness and defensive organization, Alfaro led the modest Arsenal de Sarandí to significant victories, including the 2007 Copa Sudamericana and the 2012 Argentinian Primera División. These successes shaped his career, earning him a reputation as a defensive strategist. He once remarked, “I dedicate this to him. He’s surely watching me from heaven.”
One of his notable accomplishments was guiding a young Ecuador team to the 2022 World Cup. A well-read individual who frequently incorporates philosophical insights into his press interactions, Alfaro is affectionately known as “My dad didn’t have a cape, but he flew from post to post,” a title inspired by his book after leading La Tri to Qatar, titled Cazadores de Utopías Imposibles, or Hunters of Impossible Utopias.
Star Player Spotlight
Julio Enciso stands out as one of the most remarkable talents developed by Paraguayan football in the past two decades. Known as La Joya (The Jewel), Enciso showcased his skills at Libertad, where the club even employed both his mother as a cleaner and his father as a street vendor to persuade them to relocate to Asunción when he was just 12. He made his debut for the national team at the age of 17 before taking the bold step to the Premier League. Although he had some memorable moments with Brighton, including a stunning goal against Manchester City that was worthy of a Puskás Award, injuries and coaching changes gradually diminished his influence.
Now married, Enciso is embarking on a new chapter in Strasbourg, where he currently plays. With his speed and directness, he has become a crucial player, a true game-changer in the attacking third. In tribute to his grandfather, he has realized his dream of participating in a World Cup.
“La Albirroooo, la Albirroooo, la Albirroja, la Albirroooo!”
Emerging Talent
Damián Bobadilla is a player to keep an eye on. Unlike his father, the former goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla, Damián chose not to follow in those footsteps, and that decision has proven beneficial as he has developed into an excellent midfielder. His father remains a significant inspiration, as he affectionately recalled, “It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you,” Bobadilla made his mark at his childhood club Cerro Porteño in 2021, demonstrating the qualities of a high-caliber box-to-box midfielder: physicality, composure, and astute decision-making. Since 2024, he has played for São Paulo in Brazil’s top division, quickly establishing himself as a vital player. Now at 24, if he maintains his current performance level, he is poised for the next significant step in his career.
Key Unheralded Contributor
Andrés Cubas serves as the backbone of the entire team structure. His ability to provide balance, engage in duels, and contest every ball as if it were his last is vital. Primarily a defensive midfielder, Cubas also has the skill to initiate swift transitions into offense upon regaining possession. Although born in Argentina and a former under-20 international for Argentina, Cubas promised his Paraguayan mother that he would play for her country if given the opportunity. At 5 feet 6 inches, he may not be physically imposing, but his intelligence, positioning, and tenacity compensate for his stature.
Expected Starting Lineup
Fan Expectations at Matches
Travel agencies in Paraguay are offering comprehensive round-trip packages to the United States that include tickets for all three group-stage matches, with prices beginning at $20,000 (£15,000). Given that the average monthly salary in the country is around $450, this is a significant expense. Nevertheless, many Paraguayans are anticipated to make the journey to the World Cup after a 16-year hiatus. The streets of Inglewood and Santa Clara will likely be adorned with red, white, and blue – not the stars and stripes, but the traditional Tricolor of Paraguay and the Albirroja jersey. The atmosphere will be animated by the iconic chant.
“I don’t like young, handsome men. Women, I like. Men, I don’t have any interest.”
US-Paraguay Relations
Paraguay and the United States have maintained a long-standing alliance, with little indication that this will change. Peña, the current president since 2023, expressed his enthusiasm for Donald Trump’s potential reelection as “a dream come true,” while Marco Rubio characterized Peña as a “strong American ally.” Earlier this year, Trump referred to Peña as a “young, handsome guy,” a remark that turned out to be less favorable than it seemed. “It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you,” Trump continued. “I don’t like young, handsome men. Women, I like. Men, I don’t have any interest.”
- World Cup 2026: Guardian Experts’ Network
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