Paraguay is in a state of national jubilation after the men’s national football team, the Albirroja, secured a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first appearance on the global stage since 2010.
The team sealed their qualification with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Ecuador on Thursday, a result that was enough to claim the final automatic qualification spot from the highly competitive South American confederation.
In a move to honor the team’s achievement and its impact on the nation, President Santiago Peña swiftly declared Friday a national holiday. In his announcement, he described the team’s journey as an “epic campaign that has inspired the entire nation,” and highlighted the significance of the moment for a new generation of fans. “There are kids who have never seen the Albirroja in a World Cup. There are Paraguayans who have waited a lifetime to experience this moment again,” Peña stated, as celebrations filled the streets.
Paraguay’s last World Cup appearance was in South Africa in 2010, where they famously advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain. Their qualification for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will be their ninth overall.
With their qualification now secured, the Albirroja will join fellow South American nations Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador at the expanded tournament.
Globally, a total of 17 teams have already booked their spots. In Africa, Morocco became the first nation to qualify, securing their place with a dominant 5-0 victory over the Niger Republic. Having reached the semi-finals in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions will be looking to build on that historic success. The co-hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada have also automatically qualified, alongside Asian powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand.
