PAR
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP D · POT 2

Paraguay
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Gustavo Alfaro · Argentine head coach since 2024. Led Ecuador at Qatar 2022 — solid South American club pedigree (Boca Juniors etc.). Engineered Paraguay's first World Cup in 16 years.
MD1 Jun 12 vs USA MD2 Jun 19 vs Türkiye MD3 Jun 25 vs Australia
8th World Cup appearance · best finish: Quarter-finals (2010)
26
Squad size
28.5
Avg. age
23 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Gustavo Alfaro's (Argentine) Paraguay announced their final 26 on June 1 (trimmed from 55). This is Paraguay's first World Cup in 16 years (since South Africa 2010) and the country's 9th appearance overall. Under Alfaro they qualified by finishing 6th in South American qualifying — the last automatic-qualification spot.

Spine: captain Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras, ex-AC Milan) + Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United, ex-Newcastle) + Omar Alderete (Sunderland) + Diego Gómez (Brighton) + Julio Enciso (Strasbourg). A hybrid of Premier League, Serie A, MLS and South American league players.

Group D opponents: USA, Türkiye, Australia. June 12 vs USA (Los Angeles Stadium) → June 19 vs TUR (Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara) → June 25 vs AUS (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium). Surpassing their 2010 quarter-final (all-time best, 0-1 to Spain) and reaching the Round of 16 is the realistic target.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Alfaro's preferred 4-3-3. Ace Almirón as a roaming No.10, Sanabria at No.9, Sosa left and Enciso right. Cubas anchors with Bobadilla and Diego Gómez as 8s. Captain Gustavo Gómez + Alderete (Sunderland) at CB.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

15
CB · DF
Gustavo Gómez
Palmeiras · 33
89 caps · 4G WC debut
Captain & ex-AC Milan CB
CAPTAIN
10
CAM · MF
Miguel Almirón
Atlanta United FC · 32
75 caps · 9G WC debut
Ace & ex-Newcastle attacker
ACE
8
CM · MF
Diego Gómez
Brighton & Hove Albion · 23 · Premier League
23 caps · 3G WC debut
Premier League young talent
19
RW · FW
Julio Enciso
Strasbourg · 22 · Ligue 1
31 caps · 4G WC debut
Brighton-developed winger
3
CB · DF
Omar Alderete
Sunderland · 29 · Premier League
35 caps · 3G WC debut
Sunderland's left-footed CB
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 7
GROUP D

GROUP D.

USA
USA
POT 1
PAR
Paraguay
POT 2
AUS
Australia
POT 3
TUR
Türkiye
POT 4
Fri, Jun 12
USA vs Paraguay
Los Angeles Stadium · Inglewood, CA
Paraguay's first World Cup match in 16 years (since South Africa 2010). Vs hosts USA in LA — Alderete + Gómez must contain Pulisic on the left.
View lineups →
MD1
Fri, Jun 19
Türkiye vs Paraguay
Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara clash vs Türkiye (Çalhanoğlu, Güler). Cubas' ball-winning and Almirón's counters are decisive against an organised midfield.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Australia vs Paraguay
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium · Santa Clara, CA
Group decider vs Australia. Reaching the Round of 16 for the first time since their 2010 quarter-final run is the target — three points are essential.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group D
  1. Round of 32 Jul 01 · Santa Clara vs 3rd place (B/E/F/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Seattle vs Winner of Match 82
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 93
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group D
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group G
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 86
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 96
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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