Only 23 FIFA ranking places separate USA, Türkiye, Australia and Paraguay, making Group D the most balanced group.
Paraguay
Returning after 16-year absence · CONMEBOL · 9th World Cup appearance · Group D
Featured facts
Paraguay scored only two goals in their first seven qualifiers before scoring ten in their remaining nine games
Paraguay scored less than a goal per game in the World Cup qualification: 14 in 18.
Show all 8 stats ↓Hide ↑
Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, ending a 16-year absence from the tournament.
Paraguay have failed to score in each of their last 3 World Cup matches.
Paraguay have won none of their last 3 World Cup matches (0W-2D-1L).
Paraguay have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 5 World Cup matches, scoring 3 goals at the other end.
Gustavo Alfaro returns after taking Ecuador to the final group game in 2022, where they narrowly missed the knockouts.
2026 Fixtures
World Cup record
9
World Cup appearances
Best result: Quarter-final
27
matches played
7 won · 10 drawn · 10 lost
-8
goal difference
30 scored · 38 conceded
Recent World Cups
2010QuarterfinalW1 D3 L1→2006Group stageW1 D0 L2→2002Round of 16W1 D1 L2→
Show 5 earlier appearancesHide earlier appearances↓
All-time top scorers
1Nelson Cuevas3goals
2Juan Agüero2goals
3José Parodi2goals
4Florencio Amarilla2goals
5Jorgelino Romero2goals
6Julio Romero2goals
7Roberto Cabañas2goals
8Maurício20261goal
9Cayetano Ré1goal
10Luís Vargas Peña1goal
Team profile
Paraguay's best World Cup finish is a quarter-final appearance, reached in 2010.
Paraguay have an average squad age of 28.5 at the 2026 World Cup.
Palmeiras supply 3 players to Paraguay's 2026 World Cup squad, more than any other club.
2026 Squad
| # | Name | Birthdate (Age) | Club | WC Apps | WC Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gatito FernándezG | 29 Mar 1988(38) | Cerro Porteño | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Gustavo VelázquezD | 17 Apr 1991(35) | Cerro Porteño | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Omar AldereteD | 26 Dec 1996(29) | Sunderland | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Juan José CáceresD | 1 Jun 2000(26) | Dynamo Moscow | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Fabián BalbuenaD | 23 Aug 1991(34) | Grêmio | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Júnior AlonsoD | 9 Feb 1993(33) | Atlético Mineiro | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Ramón SosaM | 31 Aug 1999(26) | Palmeiras | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Diego GómezM | 27 Mar 2003(23) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Antonio SanabriaF | 4 Mar 1996(30) | Cremonese | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Miguel AlmirónM | 10 Feb 1994(32) | Atlanta United FC | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MaurícioM | 22 Jun 2001(24) | Palmeiras | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Orlando GillG | 11 Jun 2000(26) | San Lorenzo | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | José CanaleD | 20 Jul 1996(29) | Lanús | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Andrés CubasM | 11 May 1996(30) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | Gustavo GómezD | 6 May 1993(33) | Palmeiras | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Damián BobadillaM | 11 Jul 2001(24) | São Paulo | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | KakuF | 11 Jan 1995(31) | Al Ain | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Álex ArceF | 16 Jun 1995(30) | Independiente Rivadavia | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Julio EncisoF | 23 Jan 2004(22) | Strasbourg | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Braian OjedaM | 27 Jun 2000(25) | Orlando City SC | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Gabriel ÁvalosF | 12 Oct 1990(35) | Independiente | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Gastón OlveiraG | 21 Apr 1993(33) | Olimpia | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Matías GalarzaM | 11 Feb 2002(24) | Atlanta United FC | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Gustavo CaballeroM | 21 Sept 2001(24) | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Isidro PittaF | 14 Aug 1999(26) | Red Bull Bragantino | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Alexandro MaidanaD | 26 Jul 2005(20) | Talleres | 0 | 0 |