Paraguay

Paraguay returns to the World Cup stage after missing the 2018 and 2022 editions, re-establishing themselves as one of South America's most resilient footballing nations. Under Gustavo Alfaro, who previously led Ecuador to the 2022 World Cup, Paraguay navigated a brutally competitive CONMEBOL qualifying campaign with trademark defensive discipline and timely goals. Their ELO rating of 1833 suggests a team that is competitive but not dominant -- a classic dangerous dark horse. The Albirroja's strength lies in their collective organization rather than individual brilliance. Miguel Almiron's pace and energy on the counter-attack remain the primary attacking weapon, while Julio Enciso has emerged as a genuine creative talent in the Premier League with Brighton. The defense, anchored by Omar Alderete, is typically rugged and difficult to break down -- a hallmark of Alfaro-coached teams. Paraguay is the kind of team that can derail a bracket. They will not dominate possession or score freely, but they are exceptionally difficult to beat and thrive in tournament settings where grinding out results matters. Their path through Group D is manageable if they can steal points against the hosts, and their knockout pedigree -- while limited -- suggests they will not be overawed by the occasion.