The Paraguay soccer team celebrates its return to the World Cup 15 years later

The return of the Paraguay team to a World Cup is not every day. From the World Cup in South Africa, in 2010, the squad had failed to participate in the most important football tournament. The Paraguayan government joined the euphoric celebration and declared an official holiday on September 5, the day after the Albirroja got its ticket to the 2026 World Cup after a draw against Ecuador. The celebrations has also joined the Ueno Bank digital bank, official sponsor of the South American team, with the publication of a Spot advertising narrated completely in Guaraní, an indigenous language that much of the population speaks. According to data from the Permanent Household Survey, 2024, 38.7% of Paraguayans five years and older speak Guaraní and Spanish at home, which is equivalent to more than two million people.

From the air, the iconic Defensores del Chaco stadium appears in the framing in a sunny day. “For 15 years, the lion was asleep, crouched, waiting,” says a voice in Guaraní, while the images show the interior halls of the complex. From the shadows a lion emerges that growls in a half voice, walks towards the sun -bathed court, look up and roars to announce his return. “The lion remembered his history and the terror that generated among the giants,” continues the narrator. Before the animal’s bellow, people crowded in the streets to see it. “The lion cured his wounds, and with the help of his people he walked erect, strong, indomitable.” The announcement closes with the lion on a ship, accompanied by a handful of people, who wears the football team, while several Paraguayan flags wave on them. “The Guaraní claw is back. The Guaraní claw returns to the World Cup,” he reads.

But the Guaraní is not only spoken in the houses of Paraguay, but also on the pitch. In social networks, several videos of the selected Paraguayans have been disseminated, giving explanations, agreeing or giving interviews in the indigenous language. In his last World Cup party, in 2010, Paraguay faced Spain in the quarterfinals. The Albirroja communicated in Guaraní on the court so that the Spanish players could not understand what they said, but it was not enough to advance the tournament.

In South Africa, Paraguay was classified first of his group (F), he won Japan in the Eighth Final in the penalty shootout (5-3) and found himself in front of Spain in the quarterfinals. The South American squad lost the game after a goal by David Villa in the last 10 minutes of play and Spain ended up being crowned champion of the contest for the first time in its history against Netherlands.

This 2025, the technical director of Paraguay, the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro is responsible for returning the illusion to Paraguayan lands. When the Argentine coach arrived in the mid -2024, the Paraguayan team had five points in six games, far from the classification. Since then, of 11 games, he has only lost one and has defeated the Titans of Argentine South American football and Brazil to achieve what he initially seemed almost impossible. “When we took this challenge, we were convinced that we could achieve this. I don’t want to go to the World Cup, I want to go to compete to the maximum,” said the coach.