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Paraguay’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the return of a team eager to reassert its place among football’s elite after missing out on the last three tournaments.

The South American side began their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign slowly, picking up just one point from their first three fixtures. However, home victories over Argentina and Brazil turned their fortunes around, paving the way to qualification. As one of the less fancied teams in the competition, Paraguay could be poised to spring more surprises on the grand stage.

They secured the final automatic qualification spot from the South American confederation, finishing 10 points behind CONMEBOL group winners and tournament favourites Argentina.

Defender Omar Alderete has been impressing in the Premier League with Sunderland, while Diego Gomez (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth) are also based in England. All three feature in the latest squad list.

Miguel Almiron, who returned to Major League Soccer with Atlanta United after a successful spell at Newcastle United, remains a fan favourite. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Diego Leon, currently at Manchester United, has already made his senior debut, though he was not included in the most recent call-up.

Paraguay’s captain is Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras, a former AC Milan centre-back who boasts over 88 senior international appearances and multiple league titles across Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil.

Julio Enciso, the young attacking midfielder who moved from Brighton & Hove Albion to BlueCo-owned Strasbourg in the summer of 2025, scored three goals during the qualification campaign and has four goals in 31 senior international outings overall.

Below is Paraguay’s confirmed squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Fernández (Cerro Porteño), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gastón Olveira (Olimpia)

Defenders: Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Juan Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow), Fabián Balbuena (Grêmio), Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), Alan Benítez (Libertad), Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), José Canale (Lanús), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres)

Midfielders: Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras), Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Maurício Magalhães (Palmeiras), Lucas Romero (Universidad de Chile), Damián Bobadilla (São Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United)

Forwards: Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Álex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth)

World Cup 2026 Fixtures:

June 12, 2026: United States vs Paraguay, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, United States

June 19, 2026: Turkiye vs Paraguay, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States

June 25, 2026: Paraguay vs Australia, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States

Recent Fixtures:

March 31, 2026: Morocco 2-1 Paraguay, Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France

March 27, 2026: Greece 0-1 Paraguay, Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece

November 18, 2025: Mexico 1-2 Paraguay, Alamodome, San Antonio, United States

November 15, 2025: United States 2-1 Paraguay, Subaru Park, Chester, United States

October 14, 2025: South Korea 2-0 Paraguay, Yongin Citizen Sports Park, Yongin, South Korea

October 10, 2025: Japan 2-2 Paraguay, Panasonic Stadium Suita, Osaka, Japan

September 10, 2025: Peru 0-1 Paraguay, Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru

September 05, 2025: Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador, Defensores del Chaco Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay

June 11, 2025: Brazil 1-0 Paraguay, Neo Química Arena, São Paulo, Brazil

June 06, 2025: Paraguay 2-0 Uruguay, Defensores del Chaco Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay

March 26, 2025: Colombia 2-2 Paraguay, Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia

March 20, 2025: Paraguay 1-0 Chile, Defensores del Chaco Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay

Paraguay have been placed in Group D for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Head coach Gustavo Alfaro, an experienced Argentinian tactician, transitioned to international management with Ecuador in 2020 before a brief spell with Costa Rica. Apart from a few months in the Saudi Pro League, Alfaro’s entire club coaching career was in Argentina, where his most successful stint came at Arsenal de Sarandí, leading them to a Clausura title and a Copa Sudamericana triumph.

Alfaro previously managed Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup, where they defeated hosts Qatar and drew with the Netherlands but were eliminated in the group stage.

Forward Antonio Sanabria, who joined Serie A newcomers Cremonese from Torino in 2025, had a standout qualifying campaign. Competing alongside Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli in a competitive front line, he scored four goals, including decisive strikes against Bolivia and Venezuela and the equaliser in a 2-1 win over Argentina.

Since making his senior international debut in 2013, Sanabria earned more caps in 2025 than in any previous year. Most of his international goals have come in home qualifiers in Asunción, and he will be hoping his recent goal in the United States signals more success ahead.