CONMEBOL · FIFA Rank #55
A proud footballing nation rebuilding after missing the 2022 World Cup. Miguel Almirón leads a new generation seeking to return Paraguay to the global stage.
Paraguay's World Cup history reflects a programme of extraordinary peaks and valleys. They were inaugural participants in 1930, played in 1950 and 1958, and then disappeared from the world stage for nearly three decades before re-emerging under manager Raimundo Saporta in 1986. The 1998-2010 cycle was Paraguay's golden era: four consecutive World Cup qualifications, capped by Spain's 2010 quarter-final defeat — their best ever result, decided by a single goal from Pedro Roóles.
The 2010 quarter-final remains the high watermark of Paraguayan football. Gerardo Martino's side defended resolutely, attacked on the counter through Roque Santa Cruz and Enrique Vera, and earned their place in the last eight through collective discipline. The subsequent decade was brutal: three consecutive World Cup qualification failures — 2014 (lost playoff to Uruguay), 2018 (finished 7th in CONMEBOL), 2022 (finished 9th) — stripped Paraguay of the confidence that defined their golden generation.
Miguel Almirón is the embodiment of the new era. His £20m move from Atlanta to Newcastle in 2019 was a statement — Paraguayan football's ability to produce Premier League-level talent. Around him, a new generation has emerged: Julio Enciso's Brighton performances, Alejandro "Kaku" Gómez's midfield control, andGustavo Gómez's leadership at the back. The 2026 cycle is Paraguay's best opportunity to break the cycle — and Almirón's prime years are the vehicle.
Paraguay's path to the 2026 World Cup runs through CONMEBOL qualification — and it will not be easy. Six teams qualify automatically, a seventh goes to the playoff. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia are near-certainties. That leaves two automatic spots and a playoff place for teams like Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Paraguay to fight over.
The Almirón-Enciso axis gives Paraguay genuine quality that most of their rivals cannot match. If Enciso continues his Brighton trajectory and Almirón maintains his Newcastle level, Paraguay has enough to challenge for an automatic qualification spot. The uncertainty is everywhere else: coach, defensive structure, and striker. A rebuild under a strong manager could make Paraguay competitive quickly. Under another transitional appointment, another failure to qualify is entirely possible.
Paraguay have not been at a World Cup since 2010 — a 14-year exile that has stripped generations of players of the experience they need to perform at this level. The 2026 cycle is genuinely uncertain: Almirón and Enciso give them quality, but the squad around them is not deep enough to guarantee qualification in CONMEBOL's cut-throat format. A playoff spot is a realistic aspiration; automatic qualification would be a strong result. If they reach North America, a Round of 16 is achievable. Anything beyond requires everything to go right for a programme still rebuilding its confidence.
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