The Paraguay coach, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, delivered on Friday the final list of players called up for the start of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, against Peru and Venezuela, including six local league players.
They are midfielder Richard Ortiz, goalkeeper Juan Espínola, and defender Mateo Gamarra, players from Olimpia.
Also, full-backs Iván Piris and Matías Espinoza, as well as midfielder Álvaro Campuzano, from Libertad, were included, reported the Paraguayan Football Association (APF).
The "locals" are added to the 21 "foreigners" called up by the Argentine coach on August 25.
Newcastle winger Miguel Almirón leads the list of players who play for foreign clubs and were called up for the Albirroja.
One of the surprises in the selected group is goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, born in Brazil and naturalized Paraguayan, who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in the MLS.
The big absentee is Brighton winger Julio Enciso, who suffered a meniscus injury and will be out of action for the remainder of the year.
Paraguay will face Peru at home on September 7, in the town of Ciudad del Este, and will visit Venezuela on September 12, in the city of Maturín.
THE CALLED-UP PLAYERS:
- GOALKEEPERS: Carlos Coronel (New York Red Bulls, USA), Santiago Rojas (Tigre, Argentina), Juan Espínola (Olimpia).
- DEFENDERS: Robert Rojas (Tigre, Argentina), Fabián Balbuena (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras, Brazil), Omar Alderete (Getafe, Spain), Junior Alonso (Krasnodar, Russia), Blas Riveros (Atlético Talleres, Argentina), Mateo Gamarra (Olimpia), Iván Piris (Libertad), Matías Espinoza (Libertad).
- MIDFIELDERS: Mathías Villasanti (Gremio, Brazil), Richard Sánchez (América, Mexico), Braian Ojeda (Real Salt Lake, USA), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Diego Gómez (Inter Miami, USA), Jesús Medina (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Miguel Almirón (Newcastle, England), Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Matías Rojas (Corinthians, Brazil), Richard Ortiz (Olimpia), Álvaro Campuzano (Libertad).
- FORWARDS: Gabriel Ávalos (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina), Carlos González (Tijuana, Mexico), Robert Morales (Toluca, Mexico), Ramón Sosa (Talleres, Argentina).