As the inaugural World Cup match in the U.S. approaches, attention is primarily focused on the host nation's team. However, for the small but passionate community of Paraguayans in the U.S., this event signifies a significant moment for their national team, returning to the tournament after a 16-year hiatus. The Paraguayans are eager to show their support, as they have planned numerous barbecues and gatherings to watch their country's group stage matches.
Although many fans hesitated to purchase tickets for the opening match against the U.S. due to prices exceeding $1,000, some Paraguayans have secured tickets for later games. Santiago Araujo, a 32-year-old whose family owns one of the few Paraguayan restaurants in the U.S., is excited to attend a match against Australia in Santa Clara, California. He noted, "Every Paraguayan I know wants to go. It’s not like there are seasons of any other sports in Paraguay. I used to sleep with a soccer ball as my toy."
According to Census estimates, approximately 37,000 Paraguayans reside in the U.S., eagerly anticipating their team's return to FIFA's prestigious tournament. This marks Paraguay's first World Cup qualification since 2010, when the team reached the quarterfinals—its best performance to date. Currently ranked 40th in the world by FIFA, this will be Paraguay's ninth appearance in the World Cup.
In Group D, Paraguay is joined by Turkey and Australia, with matches scheduled against them on June 19 and June 25 in Santa Clara, respectively. One notable Paraguayan player, midfielder Miguel Almirón, now 32, recalls watching the 2010 World Cup as a child and dreaming of playing on such a grand stage. He expressed that the upcoming match will be an emotional moment for him and his family, saying, "We take it on with responsibility because we know so many people are depending on us."
Paraguay is among South America's less populous nations, with about 7 million residents. The landlocked country is bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, characterized by vast savannas and the indigenous Guarani culture. In the U.S., concentrated Paraguayan communities exist in New York and Bernardsville, New Jersey, which has recently garnered attention due to a visit from Paraguay's President Santiago Peña.
To support their team, Paraguayan fans plan to wear red-and-white jerseys and tubular top hats. In Northern California, the Araujo family's restaurant, Cafe Guarani, is set to host a celebration featuring traditional dishes like manioc empanadas and iced yerba mate. In Queens, New York, fans will gather at the I Love Paraguay Restaurant to watch the matches. However, some fans, like Ana Di Sessa from New Jersey, find attending the games financially challenging, stating that travel expenses on top of ticket prices make it unattainable.
Zoraida Pereira, a travel agent in Bernardsville, noted she has sold travel packages for fans heading to Santa Clara, although many are avoiding the costly opening game. Pereira, who is originally from Paraguay, expressed her support for the national team, saying, "I am rooting for Paraguay this time around. They’ve been out for so long." Meanwhile, the excitement extends over 5,000 miles to Paraguay, where a documentary titled "El Renacer Albirrojo" has been released, chronicling the team’s journey back to the World Cup.
The Paraguayan team was celebrated with a grand send-off filled with fireworks, and many fans in the U.S. reported that friends and family from Paraguay were flying in to support the team. Rodrigo Valdez, a computer engineer in San Diego who was born in the U.S. but spent his childhood in Paraguay, plans to travel over 450 miles to watch the team play. He appreciates the significance of this event, stating that even as a new father, his wife encouraged him to treat himself to a game ticket as a Father's Day gift. "It will be very meaningful," he remarked.
