Paraguay's Strategic Preparations for Upcoming Friendly Matches
On March 16, 2026, Paraguay's head coach, Gustavo Alvaro, revealed a list of 26 players called up for two friendly matches against Morocco and Greece as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. This strategic move comes ahead of their match against Morocco scheduled for March 31, where Alvaro aims to inject fresh talent into the national team, bringing in promising players who have not traditionally been part of the "Albirroja" squad.
Among the notable inclusions is Brazilian midfielder Mauricio Magalhaes, who has recently obtained his naturalization and has been making waves with his performances at Palmeiras in São Paulo. Another attacking option added to the mix is Gaston Olveira, a forward from Club Olimpia, whose outstanding displays in the 2026 season have opened the door for him to join the national team, providing a significant threat to opposing defenses.
Alvaro has also focused on strengthening the defensive line by calling up Jose Canale, a key player for Lanús in Argentina, who celebrated victory in the 2025 Copa Sudamericana and the 2026 Recopa Sudamericana. Furthermore, the squad will benefit from the rapid rise of Gustavo Caballero from Portsmouth in England, alongside the promising young talent Alejandro Medina, who garnered attention during the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 2025 before recently transferring to Talleres de Córdoba in Argentina.
These enhancements come in response to the absence of several key players, including Ronaldo Martinez, Diego Gonzales, Agustin Sandith, Isidro Pitaa, and Hugo Cuenca, who were not included in the latest roster. Paraguay will first face Greece on March 27 at a venue in Athens before taking on Morocco just four days later at the Stade de Lens in France.
As reported by almountakhab.com.
