Paraguay national football team

Mens national football team.

The Paraguay national football team, known as Los Guaraníes or La Albirroja, represents Paraguay in international football competitions. It is governed by the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol (APF), the governing body for football in Paraguay. The team is a member of CONMEBOL in South America and FIFA in global competitions. Their traditional colors are red and white stripes with blue shorts, reflecting the colors of the Paraguayan flag.

Paraguay has qualified for eight FIFA World Cup tournaments, with their best performance coming in 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals. They have also enjoyed success in the Copa América, winning the tournament twice in 1953 and 1979. Their highest FIFA ranking was 8th, achieved in March 2001, marking a significant rise from their lowest ranking of 103rd in May 1995.

La Albirroja has produced several notable players throughout its history. Paulo da Silva holds the record for most caps with 148 appearances, while Roque Santa Cruz is the all-time top scorer with 32 goals. Other prominent players include José Luis Chilavert, Carlos Gamarra, and Roberto Cabañas.

Paraguay's most successful period was under the coaching of Argentine Gerardo Martino, who led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and the final of the 2011 Copa América. The team has also shown strength in youth competitions, with their U-20 team winning the South American Youth Football Championship in 2004.

Despite facing challenges in recent years, Paraguay continues to be a competitive force in South American football. Their home stadium is the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, where they have played most of their matches since its opening in 1917.