Sport in Paraguay

Football in Paraguay is so popular that it has taken a big part of the nation's culture. The game was introduced in the 1800s. Their national team, Paraguay National Soccer Team, was able to obtain a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, the only Olympic medal that Paraguay has, and won two tournaments of Copa America.

These accomplishments took Paraguay to the fourth rank of the most successful football nations in South America. Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero was well-renowned in this sport. He was the captain of the Paraguay national team. Cantero has scored three goals in four appearances in both the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 1999 Copa America.

Rugby Union is another popular sport in Paraguay due to the massive immigration from Europe. The Paraguayan Rugby Union was founded in 1970. They have a national team called "The Alligators" and they first represented the country in 1971.

Also, because of the team's achievements, the country ranked 38th worldwide and 5th in South America. The first Paraguayan rugby player of note was Nelson Ayala. He played with the English club Saracens F.C. in the 1950s. Ayala also played a prominent part in developing the game in his home country.

The Trans-Chaco Rally is an annual rally event founded in 1970. The event is much loved by the Paraguayans. The main stage of the rally covers the entire Gran Chaco with a vast and tough terrain that will surely be a great challenge for the drivers.

Below are details of sports, sporting events, and sports people related to Paraguay. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Paraguay

• Football (Soccer), Rugby Union

Paraguay Sporting Success

• Soccer team won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
• Paraguay has made eight FIFA World Cup appearances. The Paraguay men's football team had the best FIFA World Cup outing in 2010 when the team reached the quarterfinals of the competition.

Great athletes from Paraguay

• Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero (football)
• Nelson Ayala (rugby)

Paraguay at major events

• Paraguay at the Summer Olympics
• Paraguay at the Winter Olympics
• Paraguay at the FIFA World Cup
• Paraguay at the Copa América

Past sporting events hosted in Paraguay

• 2022 - the 12th edition of the South American Games, Asunción Paraguay.

Upcoming sporting events in Paraguay

• 2030 FIFA World Cup - Asunción will host one match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup to celebrate the tournament's 100th anniversary.
• The 2031 Pan American Games - Asuncion, Paraguay will host this competition in 2031.
• Paraguay won the Copa America twice - 1953 and 1979

Annual sporting events held in Paraguay

• Trans-Chaco Rally is an annual rally event

Paraguay Sports at a Glance