USA vs Paraguay LIVE: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D TV Stream, Opening Ceremony, Score, Commentary and Stats
Paraguay’s path to this tournament was far from straightforward, but a strong turnaround under head coach Gustavo Alfaro has revived their hopes. The team missed the World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and their qualifying campaign for this event began badly, with Paraguay scoring only once in their first six matches. That poor start made qualification seem unlikely, but Alfaro’s arrival in 2024 changed the mood and the results. From that point on, Paraguay lost only one of their final 12 qualifiers, transforming themselves from a struggling side into a competitive and difficult opponent.
The main feature of Paraguay’s identity under Alfaro is practicality. Rather than trying to dominate possession or build attacks slowly through patient passing, they focus on defending deep and breaking quickly when the opportunity comes. Their approach is direct, disciplined and designed to make the most of transition moments. In South American qualifying, Paraguay averaged just 37% possession, the lowest figure in the region. That statistic reflects a team comfortable without the ball and willing to concede territory in exchange for defensive structure and counter-attacking chances.
Their passing profile also shows how vertically they play. Paraguay used long passes at a higher rate than any other Conmebol team in qualifying, indicating a preference for moving the ball forward quickly rather than circulating it across the pitch. They also recorded the highest direct speed among South American sides, a metric that measures how rapidly the ball advances toward the opponent’s goal. In practical terms, this means Paraguay aim to progress fast and attack space whenever they regain possession.
Another key statistic underlines this style: Paraguay had the lowest average number of passes per possession sequence of any South American qualifier. That suggests they rarely linger on the ball and instead look to make each possession count with immediate forward intent. While their football may not fit the image of classic long-ball play, it is clearly built around vertical movement, efficiency and simplicity rather than elaborate combinations.
This method has given Paraguay a clear identity and helped them become much more competitive in recent months. The shift under Alfaro has not just improved results, but also given the team a structure that suits their strengths. By staying compact defensively and attacking quickly, Paraguay have become difficult to break down and dangerous when space opens up. Their improvement since the early stages of qualifying shows how quickly a team can change when it finds a tactical approach that works.
Overall, Paraguay’s story is one of recovery and realism. After years of missing major tournaments and a difficult qualifying start, they have rebuilt their campaign through discipline, resilience and a clear tactical plan. Their style may be conservative, but it has been effective, and it gives them a legitimate chance of competing strongly on the international stage.
