Group D · FIFA World Cup 2026

Paraguay at the World Cup 2026: Squad, Fixtures, Odds and Best SA Sportsbook

Paraguay arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of the CONMEBOL representatives in Group D. Coach G. Alfaro has settled the team into a clear shape for the tournament. This page is the full guide for South African bettors and fans following Paraguay across the group stage and beyond.

Paraguay at the World Cup 2026

Group D · FIFA World Cup 2026

Date	Match	Venue	Round	Preview
Sat 13/06, 03:00 SAST	USA v Paraguay	SoFi Stadium	Group Stage – 1	Preview →
Show starting eleven Showing lineups from the last meeting. Current XI confirmed near kickoff. 16/11 00:00 · USA 2 – 1 Paraguay USA Paraguay
Sat 20/06, 05:00 SAST	Türkiye v Paraguay		Group Stage – 2	Preview →
Show starting eleven Lineups confirmed near kickoff. Kick off is on 20/06 05:00 SAST.
Fri 26/06, 04:00 SAST	Paraguay v Australia		Group Stage – 3	Preview →
Show starting eleven Lineups confirmed near kickoff. Kick off is on 26/06 04:00 SAST.

Bet on Paraguay at Cloudbet →

How Paraguay qualified

Paraguay qualified third from CONMEBOL, ending a 16-year absence from the World Cup.

The qualification campaign tested both depth and discipline. G. Alfaro used the long run of group games to bed in a settled XI and to rotate younger players through the squad. The core that will travel to North America in 2026 has played together for a full cycle.

Form heading into the World Cup matters. Paraguay have used the friendlies in March and June 2026 to fine-tune the back four and to test set-piece routines. The kick-off in Group D is the moment the work in the build-up pays out or does not.

Group D breakdown

Group D delivers a mix of styles, regions, and pedigrees. The top two go through automatically. The third-placed team has a real shot under the new 48-team format, where the eight best third-placed sides across the 12 groups advance to a new Round of 32.

The three Paraguay group matches:

Date (SAST)	Match	Venue	Round
Sat 13/06, 03:00 SAST	USAvParaguay	SoFi Stadium	Group Stage – 1
Sat 20/06, 05:00 SAST	TürkiyevParaguay	None	Group Stage – 2
Fri 26/06, 04:00 SAST	ParaguayvAustralia	None	Group Stage – 3

Group D rivals to scout: USA · Australia · Türkiye.

The opening matchday sets the tone. A win on day one shapes the group, a loss raises the pressure on the second game, and a draw keeps every door open. The seven-day rhythm between matches favours the deeper squads.

The squad: who to watch

G. Alfaro named a settled squad with strong continuity from the qualifying campaign. The starting XI is largely locked in, with three or four positions still open for late competition.

M. Almirón (#10, age 31) is a frontline option for the Paraguay attack and a regular starter under G. Alfaro.

A. Arce (#18, age 30) is a frontline option for the Paraguay attack and a regular starter under G. Alfaro.

G. Ávalos (#19, age 35) is a frontline option for the Paraguay attack and a regular starter under G. Alfaro.

The bench depth is where many groups are decided. A 60th-minute change can be the difference between three points and one. Paraguay need fresh legs in midfield more than anywhere else, with the heat in Mexico and the south-western United States a factor in every late-stage substitution.

How Paraguay play under G. Alfaro

Gustavo Alfaro plays a 5-3-2 with Mexican-based striker Antonio Sanabria and the experienced Miguel Almiron behind him.

Pressing triggers, set-piece variety, and transition speed are the three areas a tournament team has to get right. Paraguay have drilled all three across the qualifying campaign and the recent friendlies. The squad knows the patterns. The question is execution against opponents at the highest level.

Strengths: organisation in the defensive third, a clear chain of command in midfield, and named leaders on set pieces. Weaknesses: chance creation in open play when the press is beaten, and fitness through 90 minutes of a tournament knockout. Both are normal tournament issues and not unique to Paraguay.

Paraguay’s World Cup record

Paraguay last played at the World Cup in South Africa 2010, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to eventual champions Spain.

The 48-team format opens new routes. A side with one win and one draw across three group games has a fair chance of qualifying as a third-placed team. That is the floor most observers see for Paraguay. The ceiling depends on the draw in the Round of 32 and on the goalkeeper having a good tournament.

Betting on Paraguay from South Africa

Paraguay v Australia is the swing game. Paraguay are around 2.30 to win, the standout match-up bet of the group.

Paraguay to qualify from Group D. The headline pre-tournament market. Worth checking on at least two SA books before placing, since the price band is wide.
Paraguay v their second match opponent, draw or win double. The mid-tournament market that often delivers value once the opening matchday clarifies the group.
Anytime tournament scorer specials. Each of the named attackers above is in the market across SA books, with the keenest pricing usually on Gbets and YesPlay.
Goalscorer or to receive a card specials. The match-ups within Group D create unusual props that the bigger global books often miss. Watch the specials boards on Pokerbet on matchday.

For South African pricing on Paraguay, our covered partners are YesPlay, Pokerbet, Betshezi, Gbets, and Cloudbet. All five hold valid South African licences. Compare prices across two or three before placing, and never stake more than your set deposit limit.

How to watch Paraguay in South Africa

SuperSport on DStv carries every 2026 World Cup match in South Africa. SABC will broadcast a select run of matches on free-to-air, with the Bafana games confirmed and a handful of additional fixtures expected closer to kick-off.

Kick-off times in SAST vary across the Paraguay group games. Check the fixtures table above for the exact SAST kick-off and the venue. The Mexico-based matches kick off at one of three local time slots that map to either prime-time or middle-of-the-night SAST viewing.

Streaming via DStv Stream and DStv Now is included with a current subscription, with mobile viewing supported. No extra fee is required for current DStv Premium and Compact Plus subscribers.

FAQ: Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup

When does Paraguay play their first match?

Paraguay’s opening Group D match is on Sat 13/06, 03:00 SAST against USA. The match is at SoFi Stadium.

Who is Paraguay’s manager for the 2026 World Cup?

G. Alfaro is in charge of Paraguay for the 2026 World Cup. The full squad is built around gustavo alfaro a setup of a 5-3-2 with mexican-based striker antonio sanabria and the experienced miguel almiron behind him.

How did Paraguay qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

Paraguay qualified third from CONMEBOL, ending a 16-year absence from the World Cup.

Where can South Africans bet on Paraguay?

Any sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. YesPlay, Gbets, Pokerbet, Betshezi, and Cloudbet all carry full Paraguay markets for the 2026 World Cup.

What is Paraguay’s best ever World Cup result?

Paraguay last played at the World Cup in South Africa 2010, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to eventual champions Spain.

More on the World Cup

Group D rivals: USA · Australia · Türkiye

Other: Back to the World Cup 2026 hub · All football fixtures · SA sportsbook reviews