Olimpia secured the Apertura 2026 championship on Sunday 3 May, clinching their 48th Paraguayan league title in the football club’s history. The decisive result came after a tense 1-1 draw against Ameliano, which, combined with a crucial 2-1 defeat for their closest rivals Cerro Porteño against Recoleta, rendered Olimpia’s league position unassailable with three matches still remaining in the season.
The combination of results provided the single point necessary for the club, known as Rey de Copas, meaning the King of Cups, to officially begin their celebrations as Asunción erupted in a frenzy of black-and-white as thousands of Olimpia fans flooded the streets.
Path to the Apertura 2026 title
Following their draw, Olimpia established a nine-point lead over Cerro Porteño. With only nine points left to play for in the season, a mathematical possibility of equal points remained. However, Olimpia’s superior head-to-head record against the Azulgrana (The Blue and Red) this season, having won both encounters, meant that any potential tie on points at the end of the season would be decided in their favour. This tie-breaker rule effectively ended the title race and handed the trophy to Olimpia.
In Paraguay, the Primera División season is split into two independent tournaments: the Torneo Apertura, and the Torneo Clausura, each with its own complete league table, and its own champion. Cerro Porteño earned its 35th Paraguayan football league title last year by winning the Clausura 2025 tournament.
A maiden title for the new manager
The Apertura 2026 title victory marks a significant milestone for Olimpia head coach Pablo “Vitamina” Sánchez, who is in his first year at the helm of the record champion of Paraguayan football. The title is the first major honour for Sánchez with the first-ever football club in Paraguay, founded in 1902, representing an immediate and impactful success in his debut season.
The championship was sealed at a nearly full Defensores del Chaco stadium. However, the celebratory atmosphere was initially subdued when Ameliano took a surprise lead. In the 28th minute of the match, Elvio Vera found the back of the net, silencing the home crowd and creating a sense of tension among the Olimpia players and their fans, who were suddenly facing an unexpected deficit in the crucial game.
A dramatic second-half turnaround
The first half concluded without any further goals, leaving Olimpia with considerable work to do in the second half. As the match progressed, the pressure mounted on the league leaders to find a way back into the game.
The turning point arrived deep into the second half following a critical intervention from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). A foul was committed inside the penalty area by Ameliano’s goalkeeper, Miguel Martínez, on Olimpia’s defender, Mateo Gamarra. After a thorough review of the incident, the match referee, Juan Gabriel Benítez, pointed to the penalty spot.
Alejandro Silva made no mistake, converting the penalty at the 67-minute mark to level the score at 1-1. His successful strike not only equalised the match, but also proved to be the goal that would ultimately secure the league title.
Widespread celebrations
The scoreline remained unchanged for the rest of the game, with both teams sharing the points. Shortly after the final whistle, news of Cerro Porteño’s loss confirmed that the draw was sufficient for Olimpia to be crowned champions, sparking widespread celebrations among their supporters.
Following the final whistle and their celebrational shower, the players boarded an open-top bus for a triumphant victory parade that found its way along Avenida Mariscal López, where massive crowds were chanting, waving flags, and setting off fireworks. The celebrations turned major avenues into open-air parties filled with barbecues, music, and fans of all ages dancing in the streets to honour the King of Cups.
For more title celebration photos and videos find Olimpia on Instagram.
