Soccer-Alfaro picks overseas-based Paraguay squad for World Cup


Soccer Football - International Friendly - Morocco v Paraguay - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France - March 31, 2026 Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro reacts REUTERS/Catherine Steenkeste

June 1 (Reuters) - Paraguay ⁠coach Gustavo Alfaro named his final 26-man ⁠World Cup squad on Monday, leaning heavily ‌on overseas-based players, with only three members of the squad drawn from Paraguay's domestic league.

The Argentine manager, whose contract ​expires after the tournament, chose ⁠an experienced group led ⁠by 33-year-old captain Gustavo Gomez.

Gomez, the Palmeiras defender ⁠and ‌long-time leader of the national team, headlines the squad that also includes Brighton & ⁠Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gomez, Atlanta United's ​Miguel Almiron, ‌Strasbourg forward Julio Enciso and Independiente striker ⁠Gabriel Avalos.

Paraguay ​begin their World Cup campaign on June 12 against the United States, one of the three ⁠host nations. Before travelling to the ​tournament, La Albirroja are scheduled to face Nicaragua in a friendly on Friday.

Goalkeepers: Orlando Gill, Roberto ⁠Junior Fernandez, Gaston Olveira

Defenders: Juan Caceres, Gustavo Velazquez, Gustavo Gomez, Junior Alonso, Jose Canale, Omar Alderete, Alexandro Maidana, Fabian Balbuena

Midfielders: Diego Gomez, Mauricio Magalhaes, ​Damian Bobadilla, Braian Ojeda, Andres ⁠Cubas, Matias Galarza, Alejandro Romero Gamarra

Forwards: Gustavo Caballero, ​Ramon Sosa, Alex Arce, Gabriel ‌Avalos, Isidro Pitta, Miguel ​Almiron, Julio Enciso, Antonio Sanabria

(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico CityEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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