Welcome to our series Passion and Pride, where The Asuncion Times dives into the heart of Paraguayan football, spotlighting the twelve teams of the Primera División. In each episode, we introduce one club, uncovering its history, rivalries, and defining moments that have shaped Paraguay’s top league. In part eleven, we move to the Recoleta neighbourhood in Asunción, to meet one of the surprises of the newly promoted teams in 2025: Recoleta FC.
The Recoleta FC identity
Recoleta Football Club was founded on 12 February 1931 through the merger of two smaller neighbourhood sides, 2 de Julio and Unión Pacífico. Its name comes from the historic Recoleta district of Asunción, an area shaped by the church of Nuestra Señora de la Recoleta and its cemetery, one of the city’s most emblematic landmarks.
The club’s home ground is the Roque Battilana Stadium, named in honour of a historic club president, with a capacity for approximately 6,000 supporters. Recoleta carry two distinct nicknames. Los Funebreros (The Undertakers: funeral directors) comes from the proximity of the stadium to the cemetery, while Los Canarios (The Canaries) reflects their traditional yellow and black colours.
Resilience on the rise
Recoleta’s journey through Paraguayan football has been marked by determination, setbacks, and long-term ambition. After several years in the lower divisions, they won the Second Division in 2001, earning promotion to the Primera División for the first time. Their stay at the top was brief, followed by a long period of rebuilding.
Despite the challenges of Paraguayan lower-league football, the club never abandoned its aspiration of returning to the elite. After more than two decades of perseverance, Recoleta finally secured promotion to the Primera División for the 2025 season, ending an over two decades-long wait.
A historic breakthrough
Their long-awaited return came with an unexpected reward. Recoleta’s consistent performances throughout the 2025 campaign earned them qualification for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, marking their debut on the international stage.
The club’s place in continental football was secured through Paraguay’s annual aggregate table, strengthened by key results during the final rounds of the league. For a club recently promoted and absent from top-tier football for so many years, this qualification represents one of the most meaningful achievements in Paraguayan football.
Recoleta FC: Where ambition meets tradition
Recoleta’s leadership has set clear objectives. The first is to remain in the Primera División by building a stable, competitive squad. The second is to consolidate the club’s long-term position in the league, using the opportunities provided by continental qualification to improve their financial strength and attract stronger players.
Away from the pitch, Recoleta are investing in identity and sustainability. The return to a natural grass pitch, improved youth development pathways, and strong engagement with the Recoleta community shape the club’s strategy for future growth.
A new chapter for The Undertakers
The Copa Sudamericana qualification of Recoleta FC stands as more than a footballing success. It is the culmination of decades of persistence, the belief of an entire neighbourhood, and the dedication of generations who kept the club alive through its most difficult moments.
Their rise captures the essence of Paraguayan football: resilience, community identity, and the determination to dream beyond one’s circumstances. With continental competition ahead and renewed ambition, Recoleta stand on the threshold of a new chapter. Their story serves as a reminder that football is not only about trophies, but also about belonging, heritage and the shared hope of a community that chooses to dream together.
To follow the club, find Recoleta Football Club on Instagram.
Read the previous Episode 10 of Passion and Pride, about Sportivo Ameliano, a club in Villeta, near Asunción that is the greatest underdog of recent years in Paraguayan football.
