National Pride and Celebration
In a moment of national pride, Santiago Peña, the President of Paraguay, has announced a public holiday to celebrate the nation’s soccer team’s qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. This joyous occasion follows Paraguay’s recent 0-0 draw with Ecuador, which secured the last spot for direct qualification to the prestigious tournament scheduled for next summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with one qualifying match still remaining.
Widespread Festivities
The announcement has ignited widespread festivities, with large numbers of excited fans taking to the streets of Asunción. Following the exhilarating news, the presidency confirmed that September 5 will be a day of celebration. Peña expressed his enthusiasm in a post on X, stating:
“This is a dream come true for all Paraguayans, and that’s why tomorrow is a holiday, so all Paraguayans can celebrate together! We’re back at the World Cup, and we’re all celebrating!”
Turning Fortunes Around
Only a year ago, Paraguay appeared to be on the brink of missing yet another World Cup, having faced setbacks, including a poor showing at the 2024 Copa América, where they failed to win a single match. The Paraguay Football Federation made a pivotal decision 13 months ago by appointing Gustavo Alfaro as head coach, following the dismissal of Daniel Garnero. Under Alfaro’s leadership, the team has turned their fortunes around, achieving five victories, five draws, and only one defeat in their qualifiers, with significant wins against strong teams like Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile.
Ambitions for the World Cup
The veteran coach, 63, expressed his ambitious mindset ahead of the tournament, stating:
“I don’t want to go to the World Cup just to participate; I want to compete for the maximum. What we’ve done so far is enough to get to the World Cup, but I want more. This isn’t just about attitude; we need to improve our football and develop a competitive edge.”
Significance of the Achievement
Paraguay’s last World Cup appearance was in 2010 in South Africa, where they reached the quarterfinals but were eliminated by Spain, the eventual champions. Matías Galarza, a midfielder for Paraguay, reminisced on the significance of this achievement, saying:
“I was in school watching Paraguay’s last World Cup game 16 years ago, and honestly, I never expected to be part of this beautiful story. I just can’t believe it.”
Looking Ahead
As Paraguay wraps up its qualifying campaign with an away match against Peru on Tuesday, the nation eagerly anticipates their return to one of football’s greatest stages.
