'Out of hand': Paraguay coach Alfaro vents at World Cup's business elite

Paraguay's coach Gustavo Alfaro has sharply criticized the business elite in football, accusing them of excessive commercialization that sidelines fans and distorts the World Cup's spirit. During a training session, Alfaro voiced his frustration over the exorbitant ticket costs and the overall commercial intrusion on the sport, which he believes has its roots in poverty.

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People I know are having a very hard time, because travelling these days is very difficult, very expensive, the World Cups are blown out of proportion, the costs, everything else, and that's why sometimes you understand the sacrifice people make to pay for a ticket.

"The essence of football is lost. And football can't be a business, it has to be football... a very select group get to enjoy it," Alfaro stated. He passionately argued that football belongs to everyone, particularly the less fortunate, recalling how a simple ball was often the cheapest toy, enabling many to play. "So the power of football is immense. And that's what we must defend," he added.

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The essence of football is lost. And football can't be a business, it has to be football... a very select group get to enjoy it. Football, we all own it, primarily the poorest, because the cheapest toy to play with was a ball, which was sometimes hard to afford, but 22 people could play with just one toy. So the power of football is immense. And that's what we must defend.

Alfaro also lamented the increasing business influence on game flow, citing hydration breaks as mere "commercial breaks" that disrupt the sport. He believes the game is "getting out of hand" due to these commercial pressures. His remarks came as Paraguay prepared for a crucial Group D match against Australia.

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It's a commercial break, not a hydration break. The game is getting out of hand.

Despite the team's humble origins, described by Alfaro as "born from adversity," he expressed confidence in their ability to compete. He hoped more fans from Paraguay and its diaspora could attend matches to support them. Alfaro aims for his team to prove their worth at the World Cup and send a message to children everywhere that unity and spirit can overcome perceived limitations.

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Being less for us means being more. We may eventually be less than all the teams playing here in the World Cup, but we don't feel less, we feel that if we're all together, we can somehow be more.