Weverton or Balbuena: starter or backup? What to expect at the World Cup

Grêmio will have two players involved in the World Cup, with goalkeeper Weverton called up by Brazil and defender Balbuena selected by Paraguay, creating both sporting and financial interest for the club as the tournament progresses. Even if they do not play regularly, Grêmio can receive bonuses tied to how far each national team advances in the competition.

Weverton’s selection was one of the surprises in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, since the Italian coach had never previously called him up. Ancelotti said the goalkeeper did not need to be “tested” because of his experience. With Alisson returning from injury and Ederson going through a poor run of form, some Brazilian fans had hoped Weverton could challenge for the starting role, especially after his strong performances for Grêmio. However, in the recent friendly against Panama, he was the only one among Ancelotti’s selected goalkeepers not to play, suggesting the coach currently prefers Alisson and Ederson. Brazil’s match against Egypt could be decisive in determining the goalkeeper hierarchy before the World Cup begins. This will be Weverton’s second World Cup, after appearing in 2022, when he came on in the second half against South Korea in the round of 16.

Brazil’s schedule includes a friendly against Egypt on June 6, followed by World Cup matches against Morocco on June 13, Haiti on June 19, and Scotland on June 24.

Balbuena’s situation is more complex but still gives him a realistic chance of seeing action. With nearly 50 appearances for Paraguay, he was an important figure early in Gustavo Alfaro’s tenure after the coach took over in August 2024. In Alfaro’s first eight matches, all in World Cup qualifying, Balbuena featured in six, starting five and captaining the side in three. His role changed after an ankle injury in August 2025, shortly after joining Grêmio, which required surgery and kept him out for about six months. During that period, he missed six Paraguay matches. He returned to the national team in March for two friendlies but did not play.

Since Alfaro’s arrival, Balbuena has been third in the defensive pecking order behind Omar Alderete of Sunderland and Gustavo Gómez of Palmeiras. The trio have played together at times in a three-man defense, but Paraguay has since shifted to a back four after Balbuena’s injury. That tactical change makes it more likely that Balbuena starts on the bench, with Alderete and Gómez expected to remain the preferred central defenders. Even so, his experience and versatility keep him in contention if Paraguay needs changes during the tournament. Paraguay’s World Cup schedule features a friendly against Nicaragua on June 5, then group matches against the United States on June 12, Turkey on June 20, and Australia on June 25.