Paraguay are through. La Albirroja have advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, clearing the group stage and booking a place in the knockout bracket for the first time since 2010.

What happened

Paraguay moved out of the group phase and into the tournament's bracket of 16, ending a long wait to return to World Cup relevance. It is the program's first appearance at the tournament since 2010, and its first time back in the knockout rounds in the same span.

Why it matters

Qualifying for the knockout rounds closes a chapter that had kept Paraguay away from the World Cup for over a decade. Under Gustavo Alfaro, the run marks a meaningful step in the country's return to the international stage. It also rewards a squad built to push deep into the summer rather than simply make up the numbers.

By the numbers

The campaign included a group-stage win over Türkiye anchored by Andrés Cubas, a result that helped power the push out of the group. The Round of 16 is the first knockout round of the World Cup, where a single result decides who advances and who goes home.

What to watch next

Attention now turns to Paraguay's Round of 16 opponent as the knockout bracket takes shape. With the elimination stage beginning, there is no margin left — one match decides whether the run continues.