First Touch ’26 - Paraguay

Some national teams have flair; Paraguay has garra guaraní: Guaraní grit. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass digs into how La Albirroja’s identity was forged in the fires of the War of the Triple Alliance and lives on today in a team built on resilience, defensive steel, and a refusal to go quietly.

From William Paats bringing a ball back from Buenos Aires and founding Club Olimpia, to quarterfinal glory at the 2010 World Cup and a Copa América final reached without a single win in regulation, Paraguay’s story is one long lesson in survival.

If you want to understand why Paraguay’s stadium is called Defensores del Chaco—and why no lead is safe against them—this episode is your guide.