The Paraguayan national team held another training session at the High-Performance Sports Center (Carde) in Ypané on Friday, with coach Gustavo Alfaro overseeing preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The big news of the day was the arrival of players based abroad who joined the squad.
Among the new call-ups are captain Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Maurício Magalhães, Gustavo Velázquez, and Roberto Junior Fernández, who joined the Albirroja camp. With these additions, Alfaro continues to gradually finalize the roster and ramp up the intensity of training sessions, focusing on tactical and strategic adjustments ahead of the tournament.
Ramón Sosa, a forward for Palmeiras, arrived in Paraguay after the conclusion of the Copa Libertadores group stage and was visibly moved by the fans' reception at the airport. "The truth is, arriving in the country and being received like this is incredible. I don't know how to put it, but it's amazing. I'm always grateful to them, happy to be here in my country. I'm in good physical shape, very good. This week I had already been training normally," said the player, a native of Maracaná.
Gustavo Gómez, captain of the national team and Palmeiras, also landed in Paraguayan territory and showed enthusiasm about joining the group. "I believe we are the last to arrive, but we're coming with great excitement. I'm already eager to be with my teammates and to train. A good kind of anxiety, let's say, because everyone dreams of this moment. Just enjoy it and, obviously, with responsibility. And I'm really looking forward to training with my teammates," said the defender.
Junior Alonso, who also joined the squad, confirmed that he intends to continue playing in Major League Soccer after the World Cup. The defender emphasized that expectations for the tournament are high.
With the new arrivals, the Paraguayan national team already has 25 players in Ypané: Orlando Gill, Gastón Olveira, Juan Cáceres, José Canale, Fabián Balbuena, Alexandro Maidana, Omar Alderete, Andrés Cubas, Julio Enciso, Diego Gómez, Antonio Sanabria, Miguel Almirón, Gustavo Caballero, Matías Galarza, Álex Arce, Braian Ojeda, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Damián Bobadilla, Gabriel Ávalos, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Maurício, Roberto Jr. Fernández, and Gustavo Velázquez. Mathías Villasanti is expected to join the group over the weekend.