Racing Strasbourg striker Julio Enciso, known as ‘La Joya’, and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gómez head the list of 26 Paraguayan players called up for the 2026 World Cup, led by Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, and which has as surprises the call-up of Bragantino striker Isidro Pitta and Lanús’s José Canale.
Alfaro waited until the last moment to announce on the social networks of the Paraguayan Football Association(APF) the names of those who will play in the World Cup, to which the Albirroja will return after 16 years of absence. Paraguay is in Group D along with the host United States, Australia and Turkey.
A selection of international talent
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Most of the squad plays for foreign teams, with the exception of goalkeeper Roberto ‘Gatito’ Fernández and defender Gustavo Velázquez.
Both play for Cerro Porteño, and the naturalized Paraguayan Gastón Olveira, for Olimpia.
The novelty was Isidro Pitta, who was called up on several occasions during the South American qualifiers.
But he stopped being called up since suffering an injury in August 2025.
Lanús center-back José Canale, Talleres de Córdoba full-back Alexandro Maidana and Portsmouth midfielder Gustavo Caballero were also surprises.
Alfaro tested them in the friendly matches against Greece and Morocco.
La Joya’, considered the most promising player in Guarani soccer, has become the mainstay of the albirroja forward line.
Along with Tony Sanabria of Italy’s Cremonese and Miguel Almirón of MLS’ Atlanta United (Filed under: Paraguay World Cup 2026: list of called-up players).
Paraguay’s midfield takes shape
For the midfield, Alfaro called Diego Gómez, who received recognition as the best young player on the Las Gaviotas squad.
Naturalized Maurício Magalhães of Palmeiras, Andrés Cubas of Vancouver Whitecaps and Braian Ojeda of Orlando City.
One of the absentees was Mathías Villasanti, who was unable to play for Gremio in Brazil.
In a video released by the APF, Alfaro indicated that they chose the “Poncho Para’í de 60 listas”, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as a symbol to represent how the Albirroja has been forged with “effort, patience and passion”.
Alfaro waited until the last moment
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Thus, the coach presented a poncho of “26 lists” with the names of those called up.
“Each thread of this poncho carries the illusion of a country,” said the Argentinean.
Paraguay and the United States will make their debut on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which seats approximately 70,000 spectators.
On June 19, they will face Turkey, winners of the European play-offs, and will close the group stage against Australia on June 25 (Filed under: Paraguay World Cup 2026: list of called-up teams).
This is the list of those called up
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Goalkeepers: Gastón Olveira (Olimpia), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Roberto ‘Gatito’ Fernández (Cerro Porteño).
Defenders: Juan Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow), Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño), Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Junior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), José Canale (Lanús), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Fabián Balbuena (Gremio).
Midfielders: Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mauricio Magalhães Prado (Palmeiras), Damián Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United), Alejandro ‘Kaku’ Romero (Al-Ain).
Attackers: Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras), Alex Arce (Independiente de Rivadavia), Isidro Pitta (Bragantino), Gabriel Avalos (Independiente), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Julio Enciso (Racing de Strasbourg), Tony Sanabria (Cremonese).
With information from EFE
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