Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026 is writing history. Gustavo Alfaro’s 26 players have reached the round of 16 at their first World Cup since 2010, stunning four time champions Germany on penalties after finishing third in Group D.
Palmeiras captain Gustavo Gómez leads a side that beat Türkiye, held Australia and now stands one game from the quarterfinals. It is Paraguay’s ninth World Cup and their deepest run in 16 years.
La Albirroja face France in the round of 16 on July 4, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Alfaro built a battle hardened squad around a strong Brazilian league core, with seven players from Brazil’s Série A, four from MLS and two from the Premier League.
Ranked 40th in the world, Paraguay have already beaten every expectation.
Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| 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. Squad confirmed by Gustavo Alfaro on June 1, 2026. For all 48 team squads, see our World Cup 2026 squads page.
Squad Quick Stats
- Average age: 28.5 years
- Most capped player: Gustavo Gómez (88 caps)
- Oldest player: Gatito Fernández (38)
- Youngest player: Alexandro Maidana (20)
- Premier League: 2 (Alderete, Diego Gómez)
- Brazilian Série A: 7 (G. Gómez, Balbuena, Alonso, Bobadilla, Magalhães, Sosa, Pitta)
- MLS: 4 (Cubas, Galarza, Ojeda, Almirón)
- Paraguayan league: 3 (Gatito Fernández, Velázquez, Olveira)
Key Players to Watch
Julio Enciso | Strasbourg
Paraguay’s most creative attacker has become their knockout hero. At 22 he can unlock a low block with one touch, and his header sank Germany in the round of 32. On his day he is the squad’s most dangerous player.
Gustavo Gómez (C) | Palmeiras
The captain leads from the back with 88 caps and anchors Alfaro’s compact defence. His reading of the game kept Paraguay tight through Group D and shut out Germany for 120 minutes. Keeping him fit is essential to any deep run.
Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United
The former Newcastle winger is the creative engine at 32. He drifts inside into the number 10 space, links play and presses from the front. Much of Paraguay’s attacking spark runs through his movement.
Diego Gómez | Brighton & Hove Albion
The 23 year old is the rising star of the group. He scored the winner when Paraguay beat Brazil 1-0 in qualifying and covers ground box to box. His energy gives the midfield a different gear.
Orlando Gill | San Lorenzo
The goalkeeper turned the Germany tie into folklore, saving two spot kicks in the shootout. A proven penalty stopper at club level, he gives Paraguay belief in any tight knockout game.
Paraguay World Cup 2026 Results and Knockout Run
Paraguay played all three group games in California and finished third in Group D on four points. A heavy opening loss to the hosts was followed by a battling win over Türkiye with ten men and a disciplined goalless draw with Australia that secured qualification.
| Date | Match | Result | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12 | United States vs Paraguay | 4-1 (L) | Group D |
| Jun 19 | Türkiye vs Paraguay | 0-1 (W) | Group D |
| Jun 25 | Paraguay vs Australia | 0-0 (D) | Group D |
| Jun 29 | Germany vs Paraguay | 1-1 (W 4-3 pens) | Round of 32 |
| Jul 4 | Paraguay vs France | TBD | Round of 16 |
Round of 32: Paraguay Stun Germany on Penalties
Paraguay produced one of the great World Cup upsets in the round of 32 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Julio Enciso headed them in front in the 42nd minute from a Matías Galarza cross, Kai Havertz levelled early in the second half, and the tie finished 1-1 after extra time. In the shootout, Orlando Gill saved from Havertz and Nick Woltemade before José Canale fired home the decisive kick to send Paraguay through 4-3. It was the first time Germany had ever lost a World Cup penalty shootout.
Round of 16: Paraguay vs France
La Albirroja now meet France, the 2018 champions and 2022 finalists, in the round of 16 on July 4, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé lead a France side that beat Sweden 3-0 in the previous round. It is Paraguay’s first World Cup last 16 appearance since 1998, when France knocked them out with a golden goal.
See every fixture on the full 2026 World Cup schedule.
How Paraguay Qualified for World Cup 2026
Paraguay came through CONMEBOL qualifying in sixth place, the final automatic spot, finishing on 28 points across the 18 match round robin and eight clear of seventh placed Bolivia.
The start was rough, with just one point from the first three games. 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 made them the form team of the second half of qualifying.
Qualification was sealed on September 4, 2025 with a goalless draw against Ecuador in Asunción, confirming a return to the World Cup after 16 years away.
Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Gustavo Alfaro took charge in August 2024 and rebuilt the team in months. The 63 year old Argentine is one of South America’s most respected tournament coaches, nicknamed the Hunter of Impossible Utopias for dragging unfancied sides to big stages.
He knows this exact job. Alfaro guided Ecuador to the 2022 World Cup and has also managed Boca Juniors. His Paraguay leans on a disciplined 4-4-2, compact lines and quick transitions, the blueprint that turned a struggling side into a knockout team and outfoxed Germany.
Group D Final Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 3 | +4 | 6 | Advanced |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 0 | 4 | Advanced |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | −2 | 4 | Advanced (best 3rd) |
| 4 | Türkiye | 3 | −2 | 3 | Eliminated |
The United States topped the group and Australia edged second on goal difference. Paraguay went through as one of the eight best third placed teams, while Türkiye finished bottom and went out. See how the bracket lines up at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026
Did Paraguay reach the World Cup 2026 round of 16?
Yes. Paraguay finished third in Group D, then beat Germany on penalties in the round of 32 to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 1998.
Who do Paraguay play in the round of 16?
Paraguay face France in the round of 16 on July 4, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
How did Paraguay beat Germany at the 2026 World Cup?
The round of 32 tie finished 1-1 after extra time. Julio Enciso scored for Paraguay, Orlando Gill saved two penalties in the shootout and José Canale netted the winner as Paraguay won 4-3, Germany’s first ever World Cup shootout defeat.
Who captains the Paraguay World Cup 2026 squad?
Palmeiras defender Gustavo Gómez captains the side. With 88 caps he is the most experienced player in the squad and leads Alfaro’s back line.
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 Enciso once possession is won.
What Is Next for the Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026
The Paraguay World Cup Squad 2026 has already beaten expectations, reaching the round of 16 for the first time in 28 years and knocking out Germany along the way. This is not a star stacked side. It is organised, fit and lethal on the counter, exactly the profile that makes Alfaro’s teams so hard to beat.
France in the round of 16 is a huge step up, but a squad that outlasted Germany for 120 minutes will fear no one. After such a long wait, La Albirroja are here to do far more than make up the numbers.
