Paraguay's National Team Celebrated After World Cup Exit

Paraguay's national football team was warmly welcomed home by President Santiago Pena after their commendable performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they reached the Round of 16. Despite a narrow defeat to France, the team's spirit and determination were celebrated. Pena expressed gratitude for their efforts, highlighting their ability to unite and inspire the nation. The team shared their own posts showcasing the warm reception, including a water salute for their aircraft. Paraguay's disciplined defense impressed many, even as they faced one of the tournament favorites. Their journey may have ended, but they left with admiration and pride.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 6, 2026, 18:21 IST

President Pena Celebrates Team's Spirit

Upon the return of the Paraguayan national football team from the FIFA World Cup 2026, President Santiago Pena welcomed them at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque. The team's journey concluded with a narrow 1-0 defeat against France in the Round of 16, but Pena commended their resilience and bravery.

In a post shared on X, he included images from the reception, where he greeted the players alongside other attendees. Pena expressed gratitude for the players' fighting spirit and their prideful representation of Paraguay during the tournament. He highlighted their courage and determination, stating that the team had united and inspired the nation despite their exit. "Welcome home, dear @Albirroja team. Thank you for demonstrating the Guarani grit in every match and for defending our flag with your soul. Your courage and refusal to give up against any opponent embody who we are. Today, we come to express our gratitude, with the affection of an entire nation that cheered for you during the World Cup. We return thanks to you, red-and-whites, with the tricolor among the best and the pride of having given it your all on the field," wrote the Paraguayan president.

A Warm Welcome for La Albirroja

The Paraguayan national football team also shared several posts showcasing the warm reception they received. One post featured their aircraft receiving a water salute on the runway, with the caption, "Thank you for making us dream, guys!"

Paraguay's Courageous World Cup Journey

Paraguay's World Cup adventure concluded at Philadelphia Stadium, where they faced France in the Round of 16. The match ended with a 1-0 scoreline after Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty, allowing France to advance to the quarter-finals against Morocco. Despite the loss, Paraguay's disciplined defense impressed many against one of the tournament favorites.

Strong Defense Challenges France

Having previously stunned Germany, Paraguay's defense frustrated France for significant stretches of the match. France controlled over 80% of possession early on, but Paraguay's organized defense limited their scoring chances. Julio Enciso led the pressing efforts, while goalkeeper Orlando Gill remained largely untested in the first half.

The first half ended without any shots on target from either team, marking only the third FIFA World Cup knockout match since 1966 to reach halftime without a single shot on goal. Tensions escalated midway through the half after a challenge on Mbappe by Andres Cubas, resulting in a confrontation between players from both teams.

Mbappe's Penalty Seals the Match

The breakthrough for France came in the 66th minute when substitute Desire Doue earned a penalty after maneuvering past three defenders and being fouled by Diego Gomez. Mbappe confidently converted the penalty, despite Paraguay's attempts to delay the restart.

Paraguay continued to press for an equalizer until the final whistle, nearly achieving a late goal, while Gill made an impressive double save to deny Mbappe a second goal during stoppage time. Although their memorable World Cup journey ended in the Round of 16, Paraguay left the tournament with widespread admiration.