Paraguay will be the land where four South American tickets to the next FIFA Futsal World Cup™ will be booked. In a continent dominated by 10-time Futsal Copa America winners Brazil, Argentina have emerged as their main adversaries and currently hold the regional crown.

If anyone has a chance of upsetting the duopoly, it’s Paraguay. Runners-up at the last Copa America, also held in Asuncion, their evolution is as undeniable as it is incessant.

Damian Mareco will be paramount to Paraguay’s hopes at the tournament which begins on 2 February. His goals are to first reach the semi-finals and, consequently, qualify for Uzbekistan 2024, and second to conquer the continent for the first time.

Based with Cordoba in Spain, Mareco spoke to FIFA hours after the draw that decided that they will share a group with Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

FIFA: What shape are Paraguay in heading into the Copa America?
Damian Mareco: I spent two weeks in Paraguay, training with the team, and we are in quite good shape. We are motivated, even more so because we’ll play in Paraguay. Physically we’re really strong. Unfortunately, national teams that have players abroad have this difficulty: the players can’t all train together. This is something new to Paraguay, because most of our players have just started leaving for Europe. That said, we’re motivated and those who are abroad are showing why they are abroad.

The benefit of going abroad can also be counter-productive, but overall do you think it’s an advantage?
I think so. The way I see it, going overseas in an advantage because you develop a good, competitive rhythm which is very difficult to get when training with the national team. So it is a plus that we have to value. For us it’s something new. We have rarely had players abroad. But I think it will prepare us to do very well.

Paraguay reached the last 16 at Lithuania 2021 and finished runners-up at the Copa America the following year. Do you think you’ve improved since then?
The truth is yes. At the World Cup, we had a tough loss to Argentina. I feel that we were very good in the first half, but collapsed in the second. After that game, I think we took a step forward in terms of play and commitment especially. Many times we lacked a little bit more commitment in big competitions. We have an obligation to prove it every day, in every moment, every friendly, every game, whether official or not. I think we’ve come on a lot. It has also helped greatly that our players have started to go and play abroad, to get used to new styles. Now I think we have the best average age of players: 30 to 33 years old.

What has stopped Paraguay taking that next step?
I think what we lacked was the demand, the competitiveness within the squad. I hope that our players going overseas will help us take that next step. Now when we are all together, we will start to see the progress each of us has made. I think that could be the little step we were missing to becoming a great national team.

What changed you the most being outside of Paraguay?
My decision-making has improved a lot in a short amount of time. It was quite noticeable in the friendlies we had with Argentina. Also the rhythm and the dynamism that playing in Spain gives you. You meet players from all over the world – fast, big, strong players. Adapting to each player, at some point of the game, is also an important advantage that you gain in Europe.

Which do you think are the best club side and national team in the world?
The best team in the world, from what I see and what I hear everywhere, is Barcelona. Even though the results are not going their way, I think they have the best team in the world right now. At international level, Portugal are the best. They are winning everything. They won the World Cup, they won everything in Europe, the Finalissima against Argentina. They have beaten the best teams in the world. Portugal are the most complete team right now.

What about the best player in the world?
The one who is standing out – and by far – is Pito. I played against him in December and he is incredible. He has so many weapons. He pops up out on the right, on the left, plays as a pivot. He plays with his back to you and as a playmaker. The only thing he can’t do is play in goal! (laughs). I have watched a lot of videos of Pito, but it doesn’t matter how hard you study him, he will always surprise you with something different. He is the best player in the world.

What are Paraguay’s goals for 2024?
Our first objective is to qualify for the World Cup. After achieving that, God willing we can do it, we will need to take that extra step to become a great team by winning the Copa America. Playing at home, I think we have a good chance. We have always had a clear objective in the World Cup: to go further than we ever have before and reach the semi-finals. That’s the dream. We are very well prepared to achieve it, but a lot depends on us and what we do on the court.

Do you think it would be a shock for the futsal world to see you in the Uzbekistan 2024 semi-finals?
For many people it would be a shock, because Paraguayan futsal is not very renowned. The only thing you see of Paraguayan futsal is in the World Cups, Copa America, and the play-offs. At club level, except for the Libertadores, which Cerro [Porteno] won, you don’t see much. It would be a shock not only for people outside the country, but also for our own people, who don’t believe in us. For us, players, coaching staff and directors, I don’t think it would be a shock. Because we can see the progress, we can see the changes, and we know that we can give much more than what we have been giving.