Paraguay qualified through the grueling CONMEBOL qualifiers and will be led by head coach Gustavo Alfaro. The first match against host the United States in Los Angeles will be a real test. Paraguay is known for its unpredictable defensive strength.

Coach Gustavo Alfaro named three goalkeepers to the Albirroja roster: Gatito Fernández, Orlando Gill, and Gastón Olveira. This is Paraguay’s eighth World Cup appearance, and the team will face the United States, Australia, and Turkey in Group B. The trio of goalkeepers is united by a family history in goalkeeping that spans two generations, featuring one of South America’s most promising young goalkeepers and an experienced stalwart from the Paraguayan league.

Gatito Fernández is 38 years old, and his nickname is rooted in family history. His father, Roberto Fernández Sr., was Paraguay’s starting goalkeeper at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he became known as “El Gato,” the cat. Consequently, his son became “Gatito,” the kitten. What has been passed down through the generations is not just the name: both men embody consistency, reliability, and a career entirely dedicated to the Paraguayan national team.

Gatito spent the peak of his career at Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro, where he played a total of 218 competitive matches from 2017 to 2024 and became a fan favorite. At the 2019 Copa América, he started in goal for all four of Paraguay’s matches and made two crucial saves in the penalty shootout against Brazil in the quarterfinals. At the beginning of 2025, he returned to his home club, Cerro Porteño. With over 30 international appearances since 2011, he is Alfaros’ clear first choice and one of the most iconic goalkeepers Paraguay has ever produced.

Gill is 25 years old, was born in San Lorenzo, Paraguay, and, at 198 cm, is one of the tallest goalkeepers in the entire World Cup tournament. He spent his entire youth career with the Paraguayan club CS San Lorenzo before transferring to San Lorenzo de Almagro in Buenos Aires at the end of 2023, initially on loan, and then on a permanent contract through 2027 in January 2025. There, he established himself this season as the starting goalkeeper in Argentina’s Primera División, where he played in 15 matches and recorded 17 shutouts throughout the 2025 season. His market value climbed to 4.7 million euros. He made his debut for the Paraguayan national team in 2025 and has been Alfaros’ second-choice goalkeeper ever since. The 2026 World Cup will be the first major international stage for a goalkeeper who could help shape South American goalkeeping for the next decade.

Olveira is 32 years old, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and has spent his entire career in South America. After seven years with River Plate Montevideo, he initially joined Club Olimpia in Asunción on loan in 2021 and signed a permanent contract with the historic Paraguayan club in 2022. There, he established himself as the starting goalkeeper and led Olimpia through several Apertura and Clausura seasons. Notably, Olveira does not originally have Paraguayan roots and went through the process of obtaining Paraguayan citizenship in order to be eligible to play for the Albirroja. He didn’t make his national team debut until 2026, just a few weeks before being named to the World Cup roster. As the third-string goalkeeper, he serves as backup to Alfaros, but brings the experience of a goalkeeper who has stood between the posts for Paraguay’s strongest club for years.