Paraguay Secures Spot in 2026 World Cup After 16-Year Wait

September 5th – In the 17th round of the South American World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay played to a 0-0 draw against Ecuador at home.
With this result, Paraguay now holds a 7-point lead over Venezuela, who are in the playoff spot, with only one round remaining in the qualifiers. This ensures their direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This marks Paraguay’s first World Cup appearance since 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals. Their journey ended in a 0-1 defeat to eventual champions Spain, with David Villa scoring the decisive goal.