Paraguay

Two years ago, the concept of reaching this World Cup would have been met with ridicule even among La Albirroja's most ardent supporters. Paraguay had a dreadful start to qualification (just one goal in six games) and exited the 2024 Copa América group stage winless. Enter Gustavo Alfaro, who left his post as manager of Costa Rica for this job. The Argentine with a track record of lifting up struggling sides has seemingly done it again; Paraguay only lost one of their 12 remaining qualifier games since Alfaro's appointment, including home victories against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Key to Alfaro's success is the structural consistency of Paraguay's defensive 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1. Gustavo Gómez and Omar Alderete form the starting central pair, and Júnior Alonso, a hybrid centre-half / left-back for Atlético Mineiro, steps in alongside. A talented midfield group supports that shape, namely box-to-box dynamo Damián Bobadilla and his partner, likely to be Braian Ojeda or Andrés Cubas. Creativity comes from the likes of Diego Gómez, Miguel Almirón and especially star no. 10 Julio Enciso (who will likely miss the debut due to injury). When goals are needed, Paraguay are more than willing to go directly to target man Antonio Sanabria and his ability to dominate in the air. Oddly enough, the position most in question might be goalkeeper - there isn't a clear starter heading into the first game.