Paraguay World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Alfaro Returns La Albirroja After 16-Year Absence

Gustavo Alfaro named Paraguay’s 54-man preliminary squad on May 14, 2026. The final 26 will be confirmed before FIFA’s June 2 deadline. Paraguay returns to the World Cup after 16 years — the longest drought in the country’s modern football history — and arrives in Group D with a generation that blends veterans from the 2010 quarter-final era with the most exciting young talent Paraguay has produced in decades.

Projected 26-man squad

Paraguay’s final 26 is projected from the 54-man preliminary squad named May 14.

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Miguel Almirón — the creative engine. Almirón is Paraguay’s most important attacking player. At 32, he remains the primary ball-carrier and chance creator, drifting infield from the left to operate as a de facto No. 10 in Alfaro’s system. His Premier League experience (Newcastle, 2019-2025) and current MLS form with Atlanta United make him Paraguay’s best-known outfield player. Everything Paraguay creates in the final third runs through Almirón.

Julio Enciso — the wildcard. Enciso has matured into Paraguay’s most explosive attacker since his move to Europe as a teenager. His loan to Strasbourg from Brighton produced consistent Ligue 1 minutes and 8 league goals in 2025-26. He can play as a second striker, a wide forward, or a No. 10 — Alfaro values his tactical flexibility and his willingness to shoot from distance. In a group where Paraguay will likely see less possession against USA and Türkiye, Enciso’s counter-attacking threat is essential.

Diego Gómez — the Brighton connection. Gómez joined Brighton in January 2025 as one of South America’s highest-rated midfield prospects and has broken into the first team under the same development pathway that produced Alexis Mac Allister and Moisés Caicedo. His best attribute is late-arriving runs into the box from midfield — a weapon Paraguay has lacked since the Cristian Riveros era.

Diego León — the 18-year-old at Manchester United. León is the most hyped Paraguayan prospect in a generation. Signed by Manchester United from Cerro Porteño for €8 million at age 17, he has already earned two senior caps and was included in Alfaro’s preliminary squad. He is unlikely to start — Juan Cáceres is the established right-back — but his inclusion on the final 26 would be one of the tournament’s best youth stories. Pace, crossing, and a maturity beyond his years.

Omar Alderete — the Premier League defender. Alderete is the only Paraguayan defender playing in the Premier League, having helped Sunderland to a mid-table finish. He reads the game well, is comfortable on the ball, and will partner captain Gustavo Gómez in central defense. His experience against Premier League-caliber attackers applies directly to the USA match.

Notable omissions

The 2010 generation — final transition. No player from Paraguay’s 2010 quarter-final squad remains active for the 2026 cycle. The last link — Roque Santa Cruz — retired from international football in 2022. This is a fully new generation carrying the weight of a 16-year absence.

Attacking depth concerns. Beyond Enciso and Sanabria, Paraguay’s forward options are thin. Ángel Romero (33) and Gabriel Ávalos (34) provide experience but limited mobility. If Enciso or Sanabria sustain an injury, Paraguay’s attacking ceiling drops significantly — there is no like-for-like replacement for Enciso’s dribbling and creativity.

Tactical outlook

Alfaro’s 4-4-2 is conservative by design — Paraguay defends deep in two compact banks, cedes possession, and strikes in transition. The midfield pairing of Villasanti (defensive cover) and Diego Gómez (box-to-box) is designed to win the ball and release Almirón quickly. Width comes from the fullbacks (Cáceres and Riveros), not the wingers, who tuck inside to congest central areas.

The attacking plan is straightforward: Almirón carries the ball through midfield, Enciso drifts into pockets between the lines, and Sanabria makes near-post runs. Set pieces are Paraguay’s most reliable scoring source — Gustavo Gómez and Júnior Alonso are both 6’1”+ center-backs who attack corners aggressively.

Against the USA, Paraguay will play for a point — deep block, minimal risk, maximum frustration. Against Australia and Türkiye, Alfaro will open up slightly more, believing Paraguay has the individual quality to win one of those matches outright.

Group D outlook

Group D is a brutal draw for Paraguay. The USA — playing at home under Mauricio Pochettino — is the clear group favorite. Türkiye arrives with a talented generation led by Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, arguably the second-best squad on paper. Australia (Popovic’s 4-4-2, Mat Ryan, Harry Souttar) is a physical, organized side that matches up well against Paraguay’s direct style.

Paraguay’s path: beat Australia, draw one of Türkiye/USA, scrape through with 4 points as a third-place qualifier. It is possible but requires Paraguay’s best football of the cycle — and some luck.

Fan planning links

• Group D Analysis — USA, Australia, Türkiye, Paraguay
• World Cup 2026 Squad Tracker — All 48 Teams
• Dallas Match Guide — AT&T Stadium
• USA vs Paraguay Preview — June 24, Dallas

Sources checked

• Paraguayan Football Association (APF) — preliminary 54-man squad, May 14, 2026
• Goal.com, KhelNow, SoccerGraph, DailyBeirut — squad lists, projected starting XI, key player profiles
• CONMEBOL — World Cup 2026 qualifying table, playoff result (3-0 vs Oman)
• transfermarkt — player age, caps, club data as of May 2026