- Fri, Jun 12 — USA vs Paraguay — Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles · Group D · 9:00 PM ET
- Fri, Jun 19 — Turkiye vs Paraguay — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area · Group D · 11:00 PM ET
- Thu, Jun 25 — Paraguay vs Australia — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area · Group D · 10:00 PM ET
Paraguay World Cup 2026 Kickoff Times
All Paraguay kickoff times are shown in your local timezone, auto-detected from your browser. Paraguay play their group stage matches in Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area. Use the timezone selector above to convert match times to ET, GMT, CET, IST, AEST, or any timezone. Set your available hours to see which Paraguay matches fit your schedule. For the full tournament schedule, the printable schedule, or a custom calendar, pick the tool that fits.
About Paraguay at World Cup 2026
Paraguay are back at the World Cup after a 16-year absence, and the architect of their return has become a national hero. Coach Gustavo Alfaro inherited a team that failed to pick up a single point at the 2024 Copa America and transformed them into one of South America's most disciplined sides. The turnaround has been extraordinary, built on defensive organization and an unshakeable belief that they belong at this level.
Paraguay's World Cup pedigree is understated but respectable. They've qualified eight times previously and reached the quarter-finals in 2010, where they lost to eventual champions Spain. That run, built on defensive stubbornness and an ability to win ugly, remains the template. Before that, they reached the round of 16 in 1998 and 2002. The common thread is the same: Paraguay don't dazzle, but they compete.
Qualifying was a masterclass in defensive football. They conceded just 10 goals in 18 matches while scoring only 14, including famous home victories over Argentina and Brazil where they had barely a quarter of the ball. The numbers might look dull on paper, but there's something admirable about a team that knows exactly what it is and executes the plan with ruthless efficiency. They finished level on points with Brazil and Colombia, which tells you how effective that approach was.
Alfaro has built the team around towering center-backs and a midfield full of tough tacklers and willing runners. The defensive structure is the star, but young attacker Julio Enciso provides the spark that can win games single-handedly. He's capable of moments of individual brilliance that contrast sharply with the team's collective approach. Don't expect entertainment, but do expect results.
Group D with the United States, Australia, and Turkiye is competitive but fair. Paraguay's defensive organization gives them a genuine chance of grinding out results against every opponent. The opener against the US in Los Angeles is massive, a match where Alfaro's team will happily absorb pressure and look for counter-attacking opportunities against a home side expected to push forward.
A round-of-32 appearance would be a successful tournament, and it's achievable. Paraguay aren't going to win the whole thing, and they know it. But in a format where a decent third-place finish can advance you, their stinginess at the back makes them very hard to eliminate. They're the kind of team that nobody wants to draw in the knockouts, because beating them requires patience, precision, and a willingness to break down a deep, organized block. That's a headache for anyone.