The Paraguayan national team manager, Gustavo Alfaro, has announced a 28-man squad for the upcoming FIFA international friendlies against Bolivia and Colombia. Both matches are scheduled to take place in the United States. Alfaro, known as the “Cazador de Utopías” (Hunter of Utopias), has included several new faces in his selection for a renewed Albirroja.
The announcement marks the first squad selection since the World Cup cycle and begins a new phase of work for Alfaro, who recently renewed his contract to lead the team until the 2030 World Cup.
Tough matches ahead
Paraguay’s first friendly will be against Bolivia on Sunday, 27 September. The match is scheduled for a 17:30 kick-off, Paraguayan time, and will be held in Washington D.C. Paraguay’s last meeting with Bolivia was a World Cup qualifier that finished 2-2. Ervin Vaca put the hosts in front early and Miguel Terceros restored their lead from the penalty spot, but the Albirroja hit back through Miguel Almirón before Julio Enciso equalised in stoppage time.
Following this, the team will travel to New Jersey to face Colombia on Friday, 2 October. This second match is set to begin at 21:00, Paraguayan time. To find Paraguay’s last victory over Colombia, we have to go back to 5 October 2017. In a World Cup qualifier, La Albirroja came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to late goals from Óscar Cardozo and Antonio Sanabria, after Radamel Falcao had opened the scoring.
First opportunity for new players
Seven players have received their first call-up under Gustavo Alfaro, signalling a fresh start for a renewed Albirroja, as the national team is known. These players will be looking to make their mark during the upcoming fixtures.
The newcomers to the squad include goalkeepers Santiago Rojas and Alexis Cañete, alongside Clever Ferreira, Enso González, Hugo Quintana, Robert Morales, and Hugo Adrián Benítez. Their inclusion represents a significant opportunity to integrate into the national team setup ahead of the two matches.
Full squad and next games
- Orlando Gill (Lille, France)
- Gastón Olveira (Olimpia, Paraguay)
- Santiago Rojas (Nacional, Paraguay)
- Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras, Brazil)
- Omar Alderete (Sunderland, England)
- Junior Alonso (Atlanta United, United States)
- José Canale (Lanús, Argentina)
- Clever Ferreira (Atlético Tucumán, Argentina)
- Alexis Cañete (Cerro Porteño, Paraguay)
- Juan Cáceres (Dinamo Moscow, Russia)
- Alexandro Maidana (Atlético Talleres, Argentina)
- Alan Benítez (Libertad, Paraguay)
- Hugo Benítez (Nacional, Paraguay)
- Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada)
- Hugo Cuenca (Celta de Vigo, Spain)
- Enso González (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)
- Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
- Maurício Magalhães (Palmeiras, Brazil)
- Matías Galarza (Inter Miami, United States)
- Mathías Villasanti (Grêmio, Brazil)
- Hugo Quintana (Independiente del Valle, Ecuador)
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United, United States)
- Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town, England)
- Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras, Brazil)
- Gustavo Caballero (Santos, Brazil)
- Alex Arce (Independiente, Argentina)
- Antonio Sanabria (Palmeiras, Brazil)
- Robert Morales (Pumas UNAM, Mexico)
La Albirroja’s international schedule will continue in November, when Paraguay will play friendly matches against Singapore on 13 November and Japan on 17 November. Follow the team on the Albirroja Instagram.
