Honestly, if you looked at the paraguay national football team standings three years ago, you probably wouldn’t have blinked. They were stuck in that depressing "mid-table" cycle where they played hard but just couldn't score to save their lives. But something changed. Fast forward to early 2026, and Paraguay isn't just surviving the brutal South American qualifiers—they’ve basically punched their ticket back to the big stage for the first time since 2010.
It feels weird to say, right? For a decade and a half, the World Cup was something Paraguayans watched on TV while wishing they had another Roque Santa Cruz. Now, they’ve finished 6th in the CONMEBOL standings. That sounds modest until you realize they ended up with 28 points, the exact same as Brazil and Uruguay.
The Math Behind the 2026 Resurgence
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a story of grit. Paraguay played 18 matches in this qualifying cycle. They won seven, drew seven, and lost four.
That 7-7-4 record is the definition of "hard to beat." Under coach Gustavo Alfaro, the team became a defensive fortress. They only conceded 10 goals in 18 games. Think about that for a second. In a league where you have to face Lionel Messi, Vinícius Júnior, and Luis Díaz twice a year, giving up less than a goal every two games is borderline insane.
- Final Points: 28
- Goal Difference: +4 (14 scored, 10 conceded)
- Key Stat: Unbeaten against Brazil and Argentina during Alfaro's initial run.
The crazy thing is the scoring. They only scored 14 goals. That’s less than one goal per game. Usually, that’s a recipe for disaster, but when your defense is made of granite, one goal is all you need. Antonio Sanabria has been the man for the big moments, leading the team with 4 goals in the qualifiers. He isn't scoring hat-tricks every week, but he's the guy who pops up in the 80th minute to ruin a giant’s day.
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Why the Paraguay National Football Team Standings Shifted
So, how did they go from bottom-feeders to 6th place? It wasn't luck. It was the "Alfaro Effect."
When Gustavo Alfaro took over from Daniel Garnero in 2024, the team was in 7th or 8th place, looking shaky. Alfaro didn't try to turn them into prime Barcelona. He went back to basics—the classic Paraguayan DNA. Physicality. Aerial dominance. Making life a living hell for whoever has the ball.
They beat Brazil 1-0. They stunned Argentina 2-1. These aren't "illustrative examples"; these are the cold, hard results that moved them up the paraguay national football team standings.
The Roster That Defied the Odds
It's a weird mix of grizzled veterans and kids who play like they’ve been around forever. You’ve got Gustavo Gómez at the back, who is basically a wall. Then there’s Miguel Almirón. We all know him from Newcastle and Atlanta United, but for the national team, he’s evolved. He’s less of a pure winger now and more of a workhorse who triggers the press.
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And we can't ignore the young blood. Julio Enciso has that "X-factor" that Paraguay has missed for years. He’s the guy who can actually dribble past three defenders and create something out of nothing. It balances out the defensive rigidity.
The Current State of Affairs (January 2026)
As of right now, the qualifying marathon is over. The dust has settled on the CONMEBOL table, and Paraguay is officially in. They’ve been drawn into Group D for the 2026 World Cup, alongside the United States and Australia.
People are starting to realize that playing Paraguay is a miserable experience for the opponent. They don't give you space. They don't let you breathe. If you look at the recent FIFA rankings, they’ve climbed back into the top 40 (currently 39th), which is a massive jump from where they were during the dark days of 2017.
What This Means for the World Cup
Expectations in Asunción are... cautious. But optimistic.
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The strategy is clear: 0-0 is a good result, and 1-0 is a masterpiece. That’s the Alfaro way. It might not be "Joga Bonito," but it gets you to the Round of 16. The team recently played a friendly against the USMNT in late 2025 and lost 2-1, but even then, they showed they can strike quickly—Alex Arce netted a beautiful header in that game.
The identity is back. The "Garra Guaraní" (Guaraní grit) is no longer just a catchphrase; it’s the reason they are sitting where they are.
If you’re following the paraguay national football team standings to see if they’re a "dark horse," the answer is a resounding yes. They won’t outshoot the world powers, but they will absolutely outwork them.
What to do next
If you want to keep a close eye on their progress as the World Cup approaches, start tracking the form of their key European-based players like Omar Alderete (Sunderland) and Diego Gómez (Brighton). Their fitness will be the deciding factor in whether Paraguay just shows up or actually makes a deep run like in 2010. Keep an eye on the June 2026 friendly schedule, as that's when Alfaro will likely lock in his final 26-man roster.