Paraguay's 2026 World Cup Squad: The Guaraní Warriors Return to Football's Biggest Stage

Paraguay are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010 — a 16-year wait that ends in 2026 with a squad that combines South American defensive solidity with the technical quality of players based in Europe's top leagues. Los Guaraníes are in Group D alongside the United States, Australia, and Türkiye.

Paraguay's World Cup History

Paraguay's greatest World Cup achievement came in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals in South Africa — their best-ever finish at the tournament. That campaign, built on defensive organisation and the individual brilliance of Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabañas, captured the imagination of an entire South American nation. In 2026, a new generation of Paraguayan footballers carries the weight of that legacy.

The Squad's European Core

Paraguay's 2026 squad features a significant number of European-based players — a reflection of the growing internationalisation of Paraguayan football. Several squad members compete in Liga MX, MLS, and South American leagues alongside the European contingent, giving coach Gustavo Alfaro a diverse pool of experience and tactical flexibility to work with.

Group D: The USA Opener

Paraguay face the United States in their group opener — one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures for both nations. The USMNT will have massive home crowd support, but Paraguay's CONMEBOL qualification experience — earned through one of football's most brutally competitive qualifying campaigns — means they are no strangers to high-pressure situations. A point or better against the hosts would be a statement of intent.

Can Los Guaraníes Reach the Knockouts?

Paraguay at +25000 are among the longer-priced sides in the tournament — but their CONMEBOL pedigree and defensive discipline make them dangerous in a group that does not contain any of the tournament's top six favourites. If they can reproduce the defensive resilience that characterised their 2010 campaign and get their European-based attackers firing, reaching the Round of 32 is a realistic and achievable target.