Overview
- Paraguay’s football association president Robert Harrison publicly announced Gustavo Alfaro’s contract extension through 2030 in September 2026 with a photo of the two holding a shirt marked “2030.”
- Alfaro is being kept on after leading Paraguay’s breakthrough 2026 campaign, which included a penalty shootout win over Germany and a 1-0 round-of-16 loss to France.
- The coach first took charge in August 2024 and delivered Paraguay its first World Cup qualification since 2010, ending a 16-year absence from the tournament.
- Paraguay has scheduled friendlies in the short term — including matches against Bolivia, Colombia, Singapore and Japan between September and November 2026 — as part of on-field preparation under Alfaro.
- The extension locks in a long-term project to build the squad for hosting responsibilities in 2030 and also sharpens regional coaching dynamics, raising questions about Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni and prompting staff changes such as Walter Samuel’s planned exit.