The Paraguayan women’s handball team, known as Las Guerreras (“The Warriors”), open their participation in the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, which begins On 26 November 2025 and runs until 14 December. The 27th edition of the tournament is co-hosted by the Netherlands (Rotterdam and Den Bosch) and Germany (Dortmund, Stuttgart, and Trier), and brings together the world’s strongest teams across the five host cities.
2025 represents Paraguay’s third consecutive qualification, a milestone that reflects both the discipline and growth of the national team. The country has been placed in Group D, facing a challenging opening round against Spain, Montenegro, and the Faroe Islands.
“Keep making history”
Left wing Ariana Portillo of Las Guerreras, speaking with The Asunción Times, looks ahead:
“Even though we have been drawn against strong teams, our goal is to reach the next round. We know it will be difficult, but we have been working towards this moment for a long time. We are very motivated and want to keep making history.”
A resilient path to qualification
Paraguay became the 31st team to secure its place at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship. Las Guerreras earned their qualification by winning the South and Central America Handball Confederation (SCAHC) “Last Chance” Tournament, held in April 2025. There, the team delivered two decisive victories, first over Peru, then over the host nation Colombia, to officially punch their ticket to the World Championship.
This achievement comes after Paraguay barely missed automatic qualification last year, finishing fourth at the SCAHC Women’s Championship behind regional powerhouses Brazil and Argentina, as well as Uruguay. Their successful comeback this season through the last-chance pathway highlights the team’s resilience and determination to remain among the continent’s elite.
2025 Handball World Championship format
The tournament begins with a preliminary round in which the 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four. Each group plays a round-robin format, with only one team per group eliminated at this early stage. The top three teams from each group advance to the Main Round, which begins on 3 December.
In the Main Round, qualified teams are reorganised into new groups, carrying over the points earned against other advancing teams from the preliminary phase. The top two teams from each Main Round group progress to the knockout stage. From the quarter-finals onward, matches are played in a direct elimination format leading to the semi-finals and, ultimately, the championship final.
“A truly unique experience”
As per tradition, the tournament will also include the President’s Cup, a parallel competition for teams that do not advance to the Main Round. This provides additional international experience and determines placements outside the top positions.
“At the 2023 World Cup we were just one step away from advancing, and we believe this is another opportunity. We are going to fight in every match and, above all, enjoy it, because the experience of a World Cup is truly unique,” Portillo shares.
The Paraguayan squad and coach
The selected Las Guerreras athletes are: Fernanda Insfrán, Delyne Leiva, Brenda Torres, Ariana Portillo, Jazmín Mendoza, Gissela González, Fátima Ocampos, Fátima Acuña, Paula Fernández, María Machuca, Sabrina Fiore, Jessica Fleitas, Maggie Lugo, Milagros Samaniego, Valheria Valdovino, and Fiorella Enríquez.
Leading the team is former national star Marizza Faría, who has elevated Paraguayan handball on court and the sidelines. As a coach, her achievements include a silver medal at the 2022 South American Games, gold at the 2023 Central American Women’s Handball Championship, and an unprecedented third consecutive qualification for the IHF Women’s World Championship. Faría was also honoured as Coach of the Year in Paraguay in 2023.
“Learn and grow in a meaningful way”
“Our expectations for this World Cup are to show real character as a team, respond well in difficult moments, and demonstrate why we have come this far. We trust the work we have been doing all this time. Above all, we hope to learn and grow in a meaningful way,” Portillo concluded.
Match dates, times, and how to watch
The preliminary phase of the 2025 Women’s Handball World Championship runs from 26 November to 2 December, followed by the Main Round from 3 to 8 December. The knockout phase begins on 9 December. Paraguay’s Group D fixtures are:
- Wednesday, 26 November: Paraguay vs Spain – 18:00 CET (14:00 PYT);
- Thursday, 28 November: Paraguay vs Montenegro – 18:00 CET (14:00 PYT);
- Saturday, 30 November: Paraguay vs Faroe Islands – 15:30 CET (11:30 PYT).
Fans can follow the matches live on the IHF’s official YouTube channel IHF Competitions. In Paraguay, broadcasts will also be available through DirecTV.
Earlier this year, a younger Paraguay generation of handball talents secured a bronze medal at the ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.
