Paraguay return to the World Cup after 16 years

16 years later, Paraguay are back

Paraguay walk out for a World Cup match Friday for the first time since 2010. Hosts USA await in the Group D opener at the most expensive World Cup stadium ever built, a venue that cost close to €5 billion (1) (3). Kick-off is at 03:00 local time. The moment is enormous, this is Paraguay's return to the biggest stage after a generation away, and they open against the host nation.

Alfaro's Paraguay: the team nobody wanted

Gustavo Alfaro has transformed a side that spent 16 years watching from home into what The Guardian calls "the reborn team no one wants to face" (2). Paraguay enter the World Cup with genuine respect, a disciplined, gritty unit that can trouble anyone. No big stars, no hype. Just a team built to make life miserable for opponents. That is exactly how Paraguay fans want it.

Gómez breaks down before the biggest night

Captain Diego Gómez could not hold back the tears at the pre-match press conference (4). The moment simply overwhelmed him. For a player leading his country into its first World Cup match since he was a child, the weight of 16 years of waiting came pouring out in front of the cameras. There may not be a more powerful image heading into this opener.

Trump skips the opener

US President Donald Trump will not attend the opening match against Paraguay (5). No reason was given, but the absence of the host nation's president from the tournament curtain-raiser is notable, and perhaps a small relief for Paraguay fans who want zero distractions.

Fan reactions

Paraguayan supporters have waited 16 years, and the mood on Reddit is a mix of pride and simmering belief. One fan preview captures it perfectly: this is the return of the "Guaraní Grit", a team molded in adversity that no opponent can take lightly. Read the full preview here.