Isidro Pitta Completes Paraguay's 2026 World Cup Squad

Paraguay's national football team, the Albirroja, has finalized its 26-player roster for the upcoming 2026 North American tournament, with a late and surprising call-up for forward Isidro Pitta. The inclusion of the 26-year-old attacker completes the squad and adds a valuable offensive option for coach Gustavo Alfaro.

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The Albirroja already has its 26 chosen for the great event in North America 2026, Isidro Pitta completes the list of 26 players and joins Ypané tomorrow.

Pitta's selection is directly linked to the unfortunate situation of midfielder Mathías Villasanti, who was ultimately left out of the final squad. Alfaro had held out hope for Villasanti until the last moment, but the player failed to recover sufficient match fitness following a nine-month layoff due to a severe knee injury sustained in August of the previous year. Villasanti's prolonged absence from competitive play, including not featuring in Gremio's recent match, proved decisive for the coach's decision.

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The call-up of Pitta is directly linked to Villasanti's medical situation. Gustavo Alfaro maintained the expectation and hope of having the midfielder until the last second, but the footballer did not reach the necessary level of fitness due to a prolonged inactivity of nine months, not even adding minutes yesterday in Gremio's defeat against Corinthians.

The spectacular form of Isidro Pitta in the Brazilian league, Brasileirao, provides a clear justification for this change in the squad. Pitta joins the tournament in excellent competitive rhythm, having recently played 84 minutes in Red Bull Bragantino's victory over Internacional. His performance throughout the first half of the season, marked by 9 goals and 5 assists in 28 appearances across all competitions, highlights his productivity in the attacking third and earns him a deserved spot in his first World Cup experience.

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The spectacular sporting present of Isidro Pitta offers the best explanation for this turn in the call-up. The attacker arrives at the World Cup with an enviable competitive rhythm.

This tactical adjustment by Alfaro, replacing a defensive midfielder with a pure forward, signifies a clear structural decision for the team. The inclusion of Pitta suggests a strategic shift towards enhancing offensive capabilities and expanding the team's attacking variations for the competition. The coach's choice reflects a preference for more attacking dynamism over containment in the final squad selection.

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The inclusion of Isidro Pitta in Villasanti's place is not a minor move on the board, as it implies a very clear structural decision within the squad. With this change, Gustavo Alfaro dispenses with a natural defensive midfielder to add a net forward, expanding the range of offensive variations for the competition.