Alfaro Balances World Cup Hopes With Praise From Ancelotti

Gustavo Alfaro is navigating a tense stretch. With Paraguay on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the Albirroja coach remains cautiously optimistic. “We’re very close,” he told Radio MARCA, emphasizing the team’s strong recent run: “We’ve recovered a lot of ground, earned key points, and won important matches. If we secure just one more point, we’ll be in the World Cup. Considering Venezuela faces Argentina next, a draw would also qualify us. There are many scenarios, but we must wait until September.”

Alfaro acknowledged the symbolic weight of possibly sealing qualification in the same month he took charge: “I started in September — hopefully, what began in September will end in September.” But before that, two tough fixtures await: Ecuador and Peru. “No team in South America is easy. Ecuador has gone eight games unbeaten and has the best defense. Peru may be struggling, but reaching a playoff spot is still unlikely. Historically, Paraguay has never won in Peru — these are huge challenges.”

Looking back at the early stages of his tenure, Alfaro recalled a difficult start: facing Uruguay away and Brazil at home. Then came the even tougher double-header against Argentina and Bolivia at over 4,000 meters in La Paz. “We knew this was a decisive moment. Beating Uruguay gave us the 24 points we believed were necessary to qualify — three matchdays ahead of schedule. That’s something worth celebrating.”

On the loss to Brazil, he admitted shortcomings but framed it as a learning experience: “It was a tight game. A shame it was decided in the 44th minute of the first half when the match was already winding down. We struggled after that — something we need to improve for similar situations. It hurt because it was our first defeat under my cycle, but if handled correctly, it’s a defeat that teaches us.”

One standout moment was his exchange with Italy legend and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We talked before the match, exchanged shirts. He said: ‘You have a very strong team — I have no doubt we’ll meet at the World Cup.’”

On Omar Alderete’s potential Premier League move, Alfaro was supportive: “He’s comfortable at Getafe, but he wants to take the next step. I hope it happens — whether in England or elsewhere in Europe — so he can keep growing.”