Gustavo Alfaro named the Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026 on June 1, 2026, and the story tells itself. La Albirroja are back at the World Cup after a 16-year wait, their longest absence ever. Palmeiras centre-back Gustavo Gómez captains the 26-man group. Paraguay last appeared at a World Cup in 2010.
Alfaro built a battle-hardened squad with a heavy Brazilian-league core. Seven players come from Brazil’s Série A, four from MLS, and two from the Premier League. Paraguay sit 40th in the world and open Group D against the host United States. This is their ninth World Cup and their first since South Africa 2010.
Here is your full Paraguay squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Paraguay 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Gatito Fernández | Cerro Porteño | 38 |
| GK | Orlando Gill | San Lorenzo | 26 |
| GK | Gastón Olveira | Olimpia | 33 |
| DF | Gustavo Gómez (C) | Palmeiras | 33 |
| DF | Juan José Cáceres | Dynamo Moscow | 26 |
| DF | Gustavo Velázquez | Cerro Porteño | 35 |
| DF | Fabián Balbuena | Grêmio | 34 |
| DF | Júnior Alonso | Atlético Mineiro | 33 |
| DF | Omar Alderete | Sunderland | 29 |
| DF | José Canale | Lanús | 29 |
| DF | Alexandro Maidana | Talleres | 20 |
| MF | Andrés Cubas | Vancouver Whitecaps | 30 |
| MF | Damián Bobadilla | São Paulo | 24 |
| MF | Diego Gómez | Brighton & Hove Albion | 23 |
| MF | Matías Galarza | Atlanta United | 24 |
| MF | Alejandro Romero Gamarra | Al Ain | 31 |
| MF | Braian Ojeda | Orlando City | 25 |
| MF | Maurício Magalhães | Palmeiras | 24 |
| FW | Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United | 32 |
| FW | Julio Enciso | Strasbourg | 22 |
| FW | Antonio Sanabria | Cremonese | 30 |
| FW | Álex Arce | Independiente Rivadavia | 30 |
| FW | Ramón Sosa | Palmeiras | 26 |
| FW | Gabriel Ávalos | Independiente | 35 |
| FW | Isidro Pitta | Red Bull Bragantino | 26 |
| FW | Gustavo Caballero | Portsmouth | 24 |
(C) = captain. Ages are as of June 11, 2026. Squad confirmed by Gustavo Alfaro on June 1, 2026.
For the list of all 48 team squads, see our World Cup 2026 squads page.
Quick Stats
The key numbers behind Alfaro’s 26-man selection.
- Average age: 28.5 years
- Most-capped player: Gustavo Gómez (88 caps)
- Oldest player: Gatito Fernández (38)
- Youngest player: Alexandro Maidana (20)
- Premier League players: 2 (Alderete, Diego Gómez)
- Brazilian Série A players: 7 (G. Gómez, Balbuena, Alonso, Bobadilla, Magalhães, Sosa, Pitta)
- MLS players: 4 (Cubas, Galarza, Ojeda, Almirón)
- Paraguayan league players: 3 (Gatito Fernández, Velázquez, Olveira)
Key Players to Watch
Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United
Almirón is the face of this Paraguay side at 32. The former Newcastle United winger drifts in from the left into the number 10 space, linking play and pressing from the front. He spent years in the Premier League before returning to Atlanta United. Paraguay’s attack runs through his movement and his understanding with team-mates.
Gustavo Gómez (C) | Palmeiras
Gómez captains the side into his first World Cup at 33, carrying 88 caps. He has anchored Palmeiras’ defence for years and leads from the back with aggression and timing. Alfaro built his solid 4-4-2 around the captain’s reading of the game. Keeping him fit is essential for any group-stage run.
Diego Gómez | Brighton & Hove Albion
Diego Gómez is the rising star of this group at 23. The Brighton midfielder scored the winner when Paraguay shocked Brazil at home in qualifying, a goal that all but sealed the campaign. He covers ground box to box and arrives late in the area. His energy gives the midfield a different gear.
Julio Enciso | Strasbourg
Enciso is the squad’s wildcard at just 22. The Strasbourg forward, who made his name at Brighton, can break a low block open with one piece of skill. He beats defenders off either foot and shoots from distance. On his day, he is the most unpredictable attacker Alfaro has.
Omar Alderete | Sunderland
Alderete is Paraguay’s most in-form defender at 29. He played Premier League football for Sunderland this season and brings pace and left-sided balance to the back line. He steps into midfield to break up play and is comfortable bringing the ball out. His form gives Gómez a reliable partner.
Paraguay World Cup 2026 Schedule
Paraguay play all three group stage matches in California. Kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Paraguay Time (PYT) for fans back home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (PYT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | United States | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood | 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Jun 20, 2026 | Türkiye | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara | 12:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
| Jun 25, 2026 | Australia | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara | 10:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
Paraguay open against the host United States in Inglewood, then stay on the West Coast for Türkiye and Australia in Santa Clara. The team plays a warm-up friendly against Nicaragua before flying north. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for every knockout fixture.
How Paraguay Qualified for World Cup 2026
Paraguay came through CONMEBOL qualifying in sixth place, the final automatic spot. They finished with 28 points, level with Brazil and eight clear of seventh-placed Bolivia across the 18-match round robin.
The start was rough. Paraguay took just one point from their first three games and sat near the bottom. Alfaro’s arrival in August 2024 changed everything. La Albirroja stunned Brazil 1-0 in Asunción through a Diego Gómez strike, then beat Argentina 2-1 with goals from Antonio Sanabria and Omar Alderete.
Home wins over Venezuela and Chile added to the surge. That run made Paraguay the form team of the second half of qualifying. No side, not even Argentina, took more points across the closing eight rounds. The only blemish was a narrow loss away to Brazil.
Paraguay sealed qualification on September 4, 2025, with a goalless draw against Ecuador in Asunción. That point confirmed a return to the World Cup after 16 years away. Paraguay closed the campaign with a 1-0 win in Peru that had no bearing on the table.
Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Alfaro took charge of Paraguay in August 2024 and rebuilt the team in months. The Argentine, born in Rafaela in 1962, is 63 and one of South America’s most respected tournament coaches. Fans call him the Hunter of Impossible Utopias for his knack of dragging unfancied sides to big stages.
Alfaro knows this exact job. He guided Ecuador to direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup before they reached the group stage in Qatar. He also managed Boca Juniors and a long list of Argentine clubs. His Paraguay leans on a disciplined 4-4-2, compact lines and quick transitions.
This is Alfaro’s second World Cup as a national-team manager. He turned a side that looked dead in the qualifying water into one nobody wanted to face. If his back line holds and Almirón sparks the attack, Paraguay can trouble anyone in Group D.
Group D at a Glance
Paraguay are in Group D alongside the United States, Australia and Türkiye. Here is where each team stands heading into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 16th | 11 (1930-2022) | Third place (1930) |
| Türkiye | 25th | 2 (1954, 2002) | Third place (2002) |
| Australia | 26th | 6 (1974-2022) | Round of 16 (2006, 2022) |
| Paraguay | 40th | 8 (1930-2010) | Quarterfinals (2010) |
United States and Paraguay rankings are from the April 2026 FIFA update. Türkiye and Australia rankings are from the November 2025 update. World Cup appearances are pre-2026 figures.
This group is wide open. The United States carry home advantage and the highest ranking, but they lost recent friendlies and look beatable. Türkiye arrived through the playoffs with real attacking talent, while Australia are organised and hard to break down.
Paraguay are the lowest ranked of the four, yet Alfaro’s form team won’t fear anyone. The opener in Inglewood against the hosts could shape the whole group. See how the bracket lines up at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026
What is Paraguay’s nickname?
Paraguay are known as La Albirroja, meaning “the white and red.” The name comes from the team’s red and white striped shirts, worn since the early days of Paraguayan football and among the most recognisable kits in South America.
Who is Paraguay’s all-time top scorer, and is he in the squad?
Roque Santa Cruz is Paraguay’s record scorer with 32 international goals. He retired years ago and is not in the squad. Antonio Sanabria and Álex Arce lead the current forward line in his absence.
What formation does Paraguay play under Gustavo Alfaro?
Alfaro sets Paraguay up in a disciplined 4-4-2. The shape stays compact without the ball, defends in two banks of four, and springs forward fast through Almirón and the wide players once possession is won.
What kit colours does Paraguay wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay wear red and white vertical stripes with navy shorts as their home kit. The striped design has defined the national team for over a century and gives La Albirroja their nickname.
Paraguay’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026 mixes seasoned defenders with a young, hungry midfield and a coach who gets the most from every player. This is not a star-stacked side. It is organised, fit and dangerous on the counter. If Almirón pulls the strings, Diego Gómez drives forward and the back four holds, Paraguay can compete with anyone in this group.
The round of 16 is a realistic target. Paraguay could well finish in the top two of an even Group D, and a third-place spot may also be enough to advance. After 16 years away, simply being back matters, but Alfaro’s group wants more than a cameo. Don’t underestimate them.
