Paraguay
La Albirroja · CONMEBOL
Paraguay at World Cup 2026
Paraguay enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup looking to make history, drawn in Group L alongside Iran, Bolivia, Zambia. Managed by Daniel Garnero, Paraguay is currently ranked #48 in the FIFA World Rankings. José Saturnino Cardozo is their all-time leading World Cup scorer with 3 goals.
2026 World Cup Squad
Full Paraguay squad managed by Daniel Garnero.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Paraguay Fixtures — Group L
All Paraguay group stage matches. Times in Eastern Time (ET). View full schedule →
Group L Standings
See full Group L standings and fixtures.
| Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Paraguay World Cup History
Tournament Record
- Tournaments: 8
- Titles: None
- Runners-up: None
- Best finish: Quarter-finals (2010)
All-Time Stats
- Matches: 31
- Wins / Draws / Losses: 8 / 11 / 12
- Win rate: 25.8%
- Goals: 39 scored, 51 conceded
- All-time top scorer: José Saturnino Cardozo (3)
Key Players to Watch
Gustavo Gómez ↗
Captain and defensive leader. Multiple-time Copa Libertadores winner with Palmeiras. Commands the backline with authority and leadership.
Miguel Almirón ↗
Paraguay's most high-profile player at Newcastle United. Provides pace, work rate, and attacking threat from midfield.
Julio Enciso ↗
Emerging young talent at Brighton. Represents Paraguay's future with his technical ability, vision, and goal-scoring threat.
Tactical Analysis
Style of Play
Formation: 4-4-2 / 5-3-2
Defensively solid with a focus on organization and counter-attacking. Paraguay is difficult to break down, sitting deep and compact before launching quick breaks. Physical and combative in midfield.
Strengths
- Strong defensive organization led by Gómez
- Physical and hard-working midfield
- Effective counter-attacking transitions
- Team cohesion and fighting spirit
- Set-piece threat
Weaknesses
- Limited creativity in the final third
- Lack of consistent goal scorers
- Can struggle to break down deep defenses
- Over-reliance on Almirón for attacking impetus
2026 World Cup Chances
Paraguay should be confident of advancing from Group L. With a well-organized defense marshaled by Gustavo Gómez and attacking quality from Almirón and Enciso, they have the foundation for success. The match against Iran will be crucial as both teams are expected to advance. Paraguay's experience and South American pedigree give them an edge, but they'll need to be more clinical in front of goal than in previous tournaments.