For Paraguay fans, the national team’s absence from the FIFA World Cup™ has been long and painful. In recent qualifying campaigns, they have got used to seeing most of their South American rivals above them in the table amid a gnawing sense that the glory years are behind them. With each successive failure to qualify, the pressure to reverse the slide only increases.

Paraguay last graced the global stage at South Africa 2010, before missing out on Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Prior to those disappointments La Albirroja had participated in four consecutive editions and were rightfully considered one of the most competitive teams in South America.

With a new era starting recently with the arrival of head coach Daniel Garnero for the departed Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the desperation to return to the World Cup should provide plenty of motivation to finally make it happen in 2026. Further incentive comes from the continent’s expanded allocation of qualification places – six will make it automatically, with another one going into the FIFA Play-Off Tournament – and a squad that, just as in the golden years, boasts players competing for some of the strongest teams in the world.

At 32, Fabian Balbuena is one of the most experienced players in the current squad. The centre-back chats to FIFA about the quality of Gustavo Gomez, Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso, the upcoming hosting of Colombia, and what it would mean to him to play at the World Cup.