Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
La Albirroja compete in Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Gustavo Alfaro, captain Gustavo Gómez. CONMEBOL qualifier.
Paraguay's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
At #47 in the FIFA Ranking, Paraguay will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
Paraguay face a stacked Group J: the average opponent ranking is #33, -14 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Paraguay: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group J is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Paraguay match of the World Cup is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 against Uzbekistan at BC Place.
Group J draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team Paraguay face in Group J.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| Paraguay (this page) | #47 | CONMEBOL |
| Netherlands | #7 | UEFA |
| Nigeria | #34 | CAF |
| Uzbekistan | #57 | AFC |
Paraguay 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Paraguay World Cup history
Paraguay have appeared at 9 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains Quarter-finals (2010). Across the last five tournaments they recorded: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, Group, QF, including 3 occasions when they failed to qualify.
Get Paraguay data via API
// Fetch Paraguay World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=paraguay',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Paraguay in at the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay is in Group J alongside Netherlands, Nigeria, Uzbekistan. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group J is #33.
Who is Paraguay's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Gustavo Alfaro manages Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Gustavo Gómez as captain.
What is Paraguay's best World Cup finish?
Paraguay's best FIFA World Cup finish is Quarter-finals (2010). They have appeared in 9 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, Group, QF.
Who are Paraguay's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Gustavo Gómez leads a squad whose standout names include Miguel Almirón, Julio Enciso, Diego Gómez. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Paraguay qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
CONMEBOL qualifier. They came through the CONMEBOL qualifying pathway.
What is Paraguay's current FIFA Ranking?
Paraguay are ranked #47 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. At #47 in the FIFA Ranking, Paraguay will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
What are Paraguay's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay face a stacked Group J: the average opponent ranking is #33, -14 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots. At #47 in the FIFA Ranking, Paraguay will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
How can I get Paraguay fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Paraguay World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Paraguay going back to their first tournament.
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