Asunción, Paraguay – Gustavo Alfaro, the head coach of Paraguay's national football team, has voiced his unwavering confidence in their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the intense competition within the South American qualifiers.

During a press conference held at the Paraguayan Football Association's high-performance center, Alfaro stated, "Despite the difficulties, I believe Paraguay will be at the next World Cup. We still have a long way to go."

He praised his players' dedication and responsibility, acknowledging their strong performance in 2024, which has propelled the team to 6th place in the qualifying standings. However, he cautioned against complacency, stating, "We're only halfway there. We haven't achieved anything yet."

Paraguay is set to face Chile in a crucial 13th-round qualifier at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción. Alfaro emphasized the importance of this match, stating, "The game against Chile is very important, and it will be a big help in accumulating points in the remaining six matches."

The South American qualifiers are proving to be exceptionally competitive. With only a 3-point difference between 6th-place Paraguay and 2nd-place Uruguay, the race for qualification remains wide open. Alfaro stressed, "All 10 South American teams have a chance to qualify for the World Cup until the final matches," highlighting the need for consistent effort in every game.

"We cannot rest on past successes," Alfaro added. "We must work much harder than before to maintain our competitiveness and achieve our goals."