Enciso promises Paraguay will keep fighting for World Cup dream

Paraguayan striker Julio Enciso has pledged that the national team, affectionately known as La Albirroja, will persist in their pursuit of reaching at least the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. This commitment comes after a significant 4-1 opening defeat to the United States, marking Paraguay's return to the global tournament after a 16-year absence.

Enciso, considered one of Paraguay's brightest footballing prospects, shared his resolve on social media, stating, "With faith, humility, and work, we will continue fighting for this dream." He acknowledged the team's need to "work harder, apologize, grow, and give our best in the next matches" following the disappointing debut.

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With faith, humility, and work, we will continue fighting for this dream.

The match against the United States saw a dominant performance from the hosts, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice, Giovanni Reyna adding another goal, and a Paraguayan own goal compounding the visitors' difficulties. Paraguay's lone goal came from naturalized Brazilian player Mauricio Magalhaes. The victory gave the United States a crucial three points in Group D.

Enciso, who recovered from a muscle contusion just before the tournament, started the match against the U.S. The team, managed by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, now looks ahead to challenging matches against Turkey on June 19 and Australia on June 25. Paraguay's last appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals was in South Africa in 2010, where they were eliminated by Spain.

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It's time to work hard, apologize, grow, and give our best in the next matches.