As the World Cup tournament begins in the United States, attention will focus on the host nation’s squad. However, for the small Paraguayan community residing in America, this represents a special opportunity to celebrate their beloved national team’s comeback to the global stage following a 16-year hiatus.
Supporters of Paraguay throughout the nation have been organizing cookouts and gatherings to view their team’s group matches. Although many were discouraged by the steep costs for Friday’s game versus the U.S., where individual tickets exceeded $1,000, some supporters have purchased seats for upcoming contests.
Santiago Araujo, 32, is one such fan. His family operates one of the rare Paraguayan eateries in America, located in the coastal community of Pacific Grove, California. He and his sibling secured passes to witness the squad face Australia in Santa Clara, California, roughly 80 miles away.
“Every Paraguayan I know wants to go,” said Araujo, who relocated to California with his family at age 11. “It’s not like there’s seasons of any other sports in Paraguay. I used to sleep with a soccer ball as my toy.”
Census data indicates approximately 37,000 Paraguayans reside in the U.S., and they’re enthusiastic about their national team’s much-anticipated comeback to FIFA’s premier competition. This marks Paraguay’s first World Cup qualification since 2010, when the squad achieved its finest showing by advancing to the quarterfinals. The team, currently positioned 40th globally by FIFA, is making its ninth World Cup appearance.
Paraguay joins the U.S. in Group D alongside Turkey and Australia, facing these opponents on June 19 and June 25 respectively in Santa Clara.
Among Paraguay’s experienced players is midfielder Miguel Almirón, who competes for MLS team Atlanta United. The 32-year-old recalls viewing the 2010 World Cup as a youth, dreaming of one day competing on soccer’s grandest platform.
The wait has been extensive.
“It’s going to be something beautiful in that moment, not just for me, but also for my family and for all the Paraguayan fans, and for anyone who’s been with us through all the tough moments,” Almirón said recently, thinking ahead to the first match. “There are going to be a lot of emotions at that moment. We take it on with responsibility, because we know so many people are depending on us.”
Paraguay ranks among South America’s smaller nations by population, housing roughly 7 million residents. The landlocked country borders Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, featuring expansive grasslands, rich terrain and indigenous Guarani heritage. Within the U.S., larger Paraguayan populations exist in New York and the wealthy community of Bernardsville, New Jersey, which Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña toured in 2024.
Supporting their team, Paraguay enthusiasts will wear the squad’s red-and-white uniforms and distinctive cylindrical hats. In Northern California, Cafe Guarani, operated by Araujo’s family, is planning a gathering to unite Paraguayan supporters between matches, featuring authentic cuisine including manioc empanadas and chilled yerba mate. In New York’s Queens area, fans will assemble at I Love Paraguay Restaurant to view the competitions.
Ana Di Sessa, from New Jersey, expressed her desire to attend the California matches but cited the distance as prohibitive.
“It is not only the tickets — you have to pay your hotel, the flights,” she said. “A lot of people are not going to be able to go there.”
Zoraida Pereira, a travel coordinator in Bernardsville, reported selling travel packages to supporters heading to Santa Clara, excluding the opener due to ticket costs. The 43-year-old, born in Paraguay but residing in America for over three decades, finds it difficult to pick sides between the competing nations.
“I am rooting for Paraguay this time around,” she said. “They’ve been out for so long.”
The excitement extends over 5,000 miles away to Paraguay, where the documentary “El Renacer Albirrojo” premiered, chronicling La Albirroja’s multi-year quest to return to the World Cup. The squad departed for America amid celebratory fireworks, and some U.S. community members report friends and relatives traveling from Paraguay to attend matches.
Rodrigo Valdez, a software engineer in San Diego, plans to journey over 450 miles to Santa Clara to watch the team compete. Born in America, the 34-year-old spent his youth in Paraguay and appreciates the recognition the team receives.
He plans to view Friday’s contest with relatives and friends in San Diego. Despite having a 4-month-old infant, his spouse urged him to purchase a ticket to the Australia match as a Father’s Day present.
“It was a unique opportunity for us that we are living in California,” Valdez said. “It will be very meaningful.”
