Enciso Injury Clouds Paraguay's World Cup 2026 Opener Against the USA
As of June 12, 2026, forward Julio Enciso is a major fitness doubt for the Group D opener against the United States after sustaining a double injury — a hamstring impact and a blow affecting the quadriceps area — during the 4-0 friendly win over Nicaragua .
The timing is brutal (as of June 12, 2026). Paraguay returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. They open against the co-hosts. And their most dangerous attacker might not be available.
What the Enciso injury means
Enciso leads Paraguay's attack by almost every national-team metric. Over the last 12 months he has logged 936 NT minutes, scored 3 goals, and added 3 assists across 12 appearances . At club level with Strasbourg, the numbers are even louder: 2,966 minutes, 12 goals, 9 assists in 42 matches (as of June 12, 2026).
No one else in the squad combines that kind of output on both fronts (as of June 12, 2026). Losing him for the USA match — or worse, for the group stage entirely — reshapes how coach Gustavo Alfaro sets up.
Who steps in
Alfaro has options. None replicate Enciso exactly.
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United FC) — 1,595 NT minutes, 2 goals, 2 assists in 19 appearances over the last 12 months. The most experienced attacker in the pool. He has the creativity but plays a different tempo (as of June 12, 2026).
- Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras) — 987 NT minutes in 19 appearances. At club level, 7 goals and 4 assists in 1,907 minutes. A direct, pacey wide option (as of June 12, 2026).
- Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese) — Leads the squad with 5 NT goals in the last 12 months from 868 minutes across 17 appearances. A pure striker, not a like-for-like Enciso replacement (as of June 12, 2026).
- Isidro Pitta (RB Bragantino) — Only 221 NT minutes in 5 caps, but 11 club goals and 4 assists in 2,240 minutes. A goalscorer waiting for opportunity (as of June 12, 2026).
- Guillermo Ávalos (Independiente) — 508 NT minutes in 13 appearances. The club numbers scream: 28 goals and 7 assists in 4,751 minutes across 71 matches (as of June 12, 2026).
The depth is there. The question is fit, not talent .
The full 26-man squad
The Albirroja named their official 26-man squad on June 1 . Players drawn from leagues in Brazil, England, Italy, Argentina, France, and the United States.
Goalkeepers
- O. Gill — San Lorenzo (Argentina) — 370 NT min, 4 app
- G. Olveira — Olimpia — 0 NT min, 1 app
Defenders
- G. Gómez (c) — Palmeiras (Brazil) — 1,665 NT min, 18 app, 0 G, 0 A
- O. Alderete — Sunderland (England) — 1,427 NT min, 16 app, 2 G
- J. Alonso — Atletico-MG (Brazil) — 1,376 NT min, 16 app, 1 G, 1 A
- J. Cáceres — Dynamo — 1,140 NT min, 14 app, 0 G, 2 A
- F. Balbuena — Gremio (Brazil) — 759 NT min, 10 app
- G. Velázquez — Cerro Porteño — 448 NT min, 6 app, 0 G, 1 A
- José Canale — Lanus (Argentina) — 0 NT min, 2 app
- Alexandro Maidana — Talleres Cordoba (Argentina) — 0 NT min, 2 app
Midfielders
- M. Almirón — Atlanta United FC (USA) — 1,595 NT min, 19 app, 2 G, 2 A
- A. Cubas — Vancouver Whitecaps (USA) — 1,249 NT min, 14 app
- R. Sosa — Palmeiras (Brazil) — 987 NT min, 19 app
- D. Bobadilla — Sao Paulo (Brazil) — 801 NT min, 13 app, 1 G, 1 A
- M. Galarza — Atlanta United FC (USA) — 528 NT min, 10 app, 2 G, 1 A
- B. Ojeda — Orlando City SC (USA) — 239 NT min, 6 app
- Maurício — Palmeiras (Brazil) — 34 NT min, 3 app
- G. Caballero — Portsmouth — 21 NT min, 2 app, 1 G
Forwards
- J. Enciso — Strasbourg (France) — 936 NT min, 12 app, 3 G, 3 A
- A. Sanabria — Cremonese (Italy) — 868 NT min, 17 app, 5 G, 1 A
- G. Ávalos — Independiente (Argentina) — 508 NT min, 13 app
- A. Arce — Independ. Rivadavia (Argentina) — 301 NT min, 8 app, 1 G
- A. Romero — Al Ain — 296 NT min, 13 app
- I. Pitta — RB Bragantino (Brazil) — 221 NT min, 5 app
The defensive backbone
Alfaro's Paraguay is built from the back. They conceded only 10 goals across all 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers, scoring 14 themselves . That is the identity. Compact, structured, hard to break (as of June 12, 2026).
Captain Gustavo Gómez is the anchor: 1,665 NT minutes, 18 appearances, 52 club matches for Palmeiras. He is expected to partner Omar Alderete at centre-back — a pairing with a subplot. Alderete was sent off in Paraguay's November meeting with the USA and will be looking to redeem himself at SoFi Stadium (as of June 12, 2026).
Junior Alonso (1,376 NT min, 16 app) gives Alfaro a ready-made alternative. Fabián Balbuena, Gustavo Velázquez, José Canale, and Alexandro Maidana fill out the defensive depth.
Recent form
Paraguay's trailing-12-month record reads 4 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses — 12 goals scored, 9 conceded across 9 recorded matches (as of June 12, 2026).
Recent results:
- vs Nicaragua (H) — 4-0 W
- vs Morocco (A) — 1-2 L
- vs Greece (A) — 1-0 W
- vs Mexico (A) — 2-1 W
- vs USA (A) — 1-2 L
- vs South Korea (A) — 0-2 L
- vs Japan (A) — 2-2 D
- vs Peru (A) — 1-0 W
- vs Ecuador (H) — 0-0 D
The Nicaragua friendly was the final tune-up. The 4-0 scoreline was emphatic. And then Enciso went down.
Group D schedule
- June 12 — USA vs Paraguay — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- June 19 — Turkey vs Paraguay — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
- June 25 — Paraguay vs Australia — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Paraguay open against the co-hosts, then face Turkey and Australia. Two of the three matches are at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. It is a manageable draw — on paper. But the USA game sets the tone, and doing it without Enciso changes the equation .
The 16-year absence
Paraguay last appeared at a World Cup in South Africa 2010. That squad reached the quarter-finals — still the best result in the country's history . They missed Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. An entire generation of players qualified for nothing.
This squad is here to end that drought. The qualifying campaign was proof enough. Now the question is whether they can carry that defensive discipline into a tournament where a single injury might tip the balance between advancement and early elimination.
What does Alfaro do?
Albirroja fans want Enciso on the pitch. But Alfaro's pragmatism is the reason Paraguay qualified in the first place . If Enciso cannot go, the system does not collapse. The defensive structure stays. The midfield absorbs more responsibility. Sanabria leads the line. Almirón and Sosa provide the width.
It is not ideal. It is Paraguay. They make it work.
When does Paraguay play their World Cup opener?
Paraguay open Group D against the United States on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood . It is the first World Cup match for the Albirroja since 2010.
What happened to Julio Enciso?
Enciso sustained a double injury — a hamstring impact and a blow affecting the quadriceps area — during the 4-0 friendly victory over Nicaragua . He is a major fitness doubt for the Group D opener against the USA.
Who are the key players in Paraguay's squad?
Captain Gustavo Gómez leads from the back with 1,665 NT minutes over the last 12 months. Miguel Almirón brings 1,595 NT minutes and creative experience in midfield. Antonio Sanabria leads the squad with 5 NT goals in that window .
How did Paraguay qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay finished in a qualifying position through CONMEBOL's 18-match round-robin, conceding only 10 goals across all 18 qualifiers . Coach Alfaro built a defensively compact side that proved difficult to beat (as of June 12, 2026).
Who does Paraguay face in Group D?
Paraguay share Group D with the United States, Turkey, and Australia. After the USA opener on June 12, they face Turkey on June 19 and close with Australia on June 25 — both at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara .