Paraguay’s rich football heritage came to life for many children during the recent opening of the FIFA Museum in Asuncion. The result was a beautiful event, a harmonic convergence of football’s vast and powerful history. Importantly, it inspired local youth to dream big about their national team’s future in the upcoming World Cups. Paraguay hasn’t exactly been a slouch in World Cup history, having qualified for seven World Cups since 1930. The last time they qualified was in 2010, when they stunned many by reaching the quarter-finals.
The excitement surrounding the FIFA Museum’s opening resonated deeply among Paraguayan children, many of whom dream of witnessing their national team compete on the world’s biggest stage. The museum makes a tangible connection to those dreams. Paraguay is in the 5th spot of South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, adding more buzz to this partnership. If Paraguay can maintain this lead, they’ll move on to the knockout stage of the tournament. The event will be collaboratively convened by our three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A Glimpse into World Cup History
Paraguay’s maiden World Cup came in 1930, as they took part in the very first tournament, held by neighbours Uruguay. Over the past two generations, our country has developed a very dangerous legacy, with the best year being 2010. That magical run Paraguay made to the quarter-finals that memorable year brought the fans hope and exuberance like few teams have ever done. At the FIFA Museum, the importance of these moments in history became real. Exhibits featured stunning trophies, memorabilia and other fascinating stories from bygone tournaments.
Museum attendees—the majority of whom were children—could hardly contain their excitement at the thought of having experienced these historic moments firsthand. Franco Caballero, a young visitor, shared his enthusiasm:
“I feel like I’m on the field touching the cup and that I’m playing. I feel like Paraguay won it.”
Taken together, his sentiment reflects the heightened fervor of Paraguayan youth for their national team. They are understandably hoping to see their country’s soccer fortunes improve once more on the international stage.
Looking Ahead to Future Tournaments
The buzz about football doesn’t stop with the new qualifiers. Paraguay, although by some measures the smallest of its 2030 cohosts, will have an important role hosting matches for the tournament. This tournament will mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup. This 2024 edition will be happening throughout Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and in Uruguay and Argentina.
Admittedly, the chance of hosting a few matches might be Paraguay’s biggest chance to assert their place in the football world stage. Alejandro Domínguez emphasized this sentiment during the museum’s inauguration:
“We are witnessing a historic event because the FIFA Museum is leaving Zurich to be closer to the people, for those of us who don’t have the opportunity to travel there to see these beauties.”
This relocation represents a larger promise to introduce the spirit of football to the communities that have long been forced to view it from a distance.
Inspiring Dreams and Aspirations
For many children in Paraguay, watching football tournaments like the World Cup has traditionally been limited to television screens. The FIFA Museum offers a unique opportunity for young fans to immerse themselves in the sport’s history and feel inspired by their heroes. Mateo Torres articulated this excitement:
“Honestly, I’m very excited because we used to watch the World Cup and Copa America finals on TV, we see the players raise the trophy, and now I’m seeing it in person.”
It’s this kind of experience that makes indelible memories and ignites dreams. As children explore the exhibits and imagine themselves as future stars of Paraguayan football, they carry with them a renewed sense of hope for their team’s future successes.
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