Alfaro says Paraguay will keep its identity at World Cup return

Paraguay arrives at the 2026 World Cup as more than a sentimental return story. Gustavo Alfaro has turned a team that missed three straight editions into a side with a clear defensive base, a more dangerous attack and enough momentum to make Group D uncomfortable for higher-profile opponents.

Alfaro, who took over in August 2024, said Paraguay would not abandon the style that carried it back to the global stage. “El ADN no lo vamos a cambiar,” he said, while adding that his aim is to build a solid back line and a versatile team. He also described the squad’s mood as one of “ilusiones muy fuertes,” a sign of how far the group has come after years of frustration.

The numbers back up the turnaround. Paraguay finished sixth in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points, 14 goals scored and only 10 conceded, the best defensive record in the region. Along the way, it beat Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, results that showed the team could compete with the continent’s biggest names rather than simply survive against them.

That matters for the World Cup scouting picture because Alfaro’s Paraguay does not look like a one-note counterattacking side. The team’s transition play has become one of its clearest weapons, and Alfaro has stressed that those moments will be decisive in the tournament. With Gustavo Gómez anchoring the defense, Omar Alderete adding depth at the back, and Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso giving pace and invention in the final third, Paraguay has the pieces to turn a compact shape into a quick, punishing break.

The transformation is especially striking given where the team started. Alfaro inherited a side coming off a flat stretch under Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Daniel Garnero, and he restored order, toughness and belief. At the Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay became far harder to beat, a home strength that helped fuel the qualifying surge.

Now the challenge shifts to the biggest stage. Paraguay returns to a World Cup for the first time since South Africa 2010, its ninth appearance overall, and opens against host United States on June 12, 2026, in Group D. Türkiye and Australia complete the group, and Paraguay has already used friendlies against Mexico, the United States, Morocco, Greece and Nicaragua to sharpen the squad for what comes next.

If Alfaro has his way, Paraguay will not be reinvented in North America. It will be the same team, only faster in the moments that matter and more dangerous when opponents leave space behind.