La Albirroja · 16-Year Wait
Following Paraguay Across America
Paraguay's first World Cup since 2010 — when they reached the quarterfinals in South Africa (their best-ever result). Drawn into Group D against host USA, Türkiye, and Australia. Coach Gustavo Alfaro (Argentine, hired 2024) led the qualification turnaround. The route opens with a marquee USA opener at SoFi Stadium LA — Group D's first match — then two games at Levi's Bay Area. Paraguayan fans need a US B1/B2 visa; Asunción wait times in 2026 are 2–4 months. The 25,000+ Paraguayan-American diaspora is small but visible in NYC and South Florida.
🇵🇾 Paraguay
🇺🇸 USA
🇹🇷 Türkiye
🇦🇺 Australia
Group D
Itinerary
The 13-Day West Coast Run
From the USA opener in LA to the Australia decider in Bay Area is 13 days, with one short LA → SFO hop after match 1. No direct flights from Asunción (ASU) to the US; route via PTY (Copa), GRU (LATAM), EZE (Aerolíneas Argentinas), or BOG (Avianca). For Paraguayan fans the trip is logistically the simplest of any CONMEBOL team's group stage.
Jun 11
Thu
Tournament opens in Mexico City. Paraguayan fans not flying out until US B1/B2 visa is in hand — wait times 2-4 months from Asunción in 2026.
Jun 10–11
Wed-Thu
Fly Paraguay → Los Angeles (LAX). Best routes: Copa ASU → PTY → LAX (~14h total), LATAM ASU → GRU → LAX (~16h via São Paulo), Aerolíneas Argentinas ASU → EZE → LAX. For US-based diaspora: domestic to LAX. Allow 1 day before the USA match for the time-zone adjustment.
Jun 12
Fri
USA vs Paraguay · SoFi Stadium · 6 PM PT (10 PM PYT). Take the FREE Metro S11 World Cup shuttle from LAX/Metro Transit Center Bay 8, or Metro K Line + WC shuttle from Crenshaw or Hawthorne/Lennox. Allow 3 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Westwood or downtown LA. Post-match: depending on result, Sunset Strip or quieter Westside.
Jun 13–18
Sat-Thu
6 days, LA → Bay Area. Fly Alaska/Southwest/United LAX → SFO (1h, $60-$140 RT, hourly). Or rent a car for the legendary Pacific Coast Highway drive (8 hours over 1-2 days). Use the gap for Bay Area sightseeing — Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Mission District, Napa Valley. Bay Area has a small Paraguayan community concentrated in San Jose.
Jun 19
Fri
Türkiye vs Paraguay · Levi's Stadium · 8 PM PT (12 AM Sat PYT). VTA Light Rail Mountain View Line direct to Levi's. Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: San Jose Little Italy or downtown Mountain View. Post-match: head back to SF — late-night Mission District.
Jun 20–24
Sat-Wed
5 days in Bay Area before the Australia decider. Use the gap for SF sightseeing, Napa Valley wine country, or a day-trip to Yosemite. Watch the other Group D matches at any sports bar.
Jun 25
Thu
Paraguay vs Australia · Levi's Stadium · 7 PM PT (11 PM PYT). Same VTA Mountain View Line route. Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Post-match: depending on Paraguay's status — celebration in San Jose or quieter spot.
Jun 30 / Jul 1
Tue-Wed
If Paraguay advance: R32 likely Bay Area, LA, Seattle. If they go out: Most travelling fans head home via LATAM/Copa. The 16-year-wait alone makes this a historic trip.
The 2010 echo: Paraguay's last World Cup was 2010 in South Africa — they reached the quarterfinals (lost to eventual champions Spain 1-0 in Johannesburg, the deepest run in Paraguayan football history). The 2026 squad is built around Antonio Sanabria (Torino), Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras — captain), Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Junior Alonso, Damián Bobadilla, Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hugo Cuenca. Coach Gustavo Alfaro replaced Daniel Garnero in 2024 and turned qualification around.
Cost reality check for Paraguayan fans: the full group-stage trip (round-trip ASU → LAX via PTY/GRU + LA-Bay Area + 13 nights of hotels + ground transport + food) lands around PYG 32M-65M (~$4,500-$9,200 per person) for the group stage alone, before match tickets ($295-$1,565). Bay Area hotels are most expensive ($300-$600/night downtown SF); LA mid-priced.