Paraguayan singer Marilina Bogado accuses President Peña of playing with her hopes over World Cup visa

Paraguayan singer Marilina Bogado will miss the chance to perform at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles after failing to secure a U.S. visa. The FIFA invitation to sing the Paraguayan anthem on June 12 was a significant opportunity for the artist.

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Don't worry, I will help you, I can even call Donald Trump.

Bogado revealed details of a phone call with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, who she says personally assured her he would help expedite her visa process. "Don't worry, I will help you, I can even call Donald Trump," Bogado recounted the president telling her.

However, the singer expressed deep disappointment, stating the president's promise amounted to nothing more than a phone call that played with her hopes. "It was just a simple call, he completely played with my hopes," she said.

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It was just a simple call, he completely played with my hopes.

Beyond her personal disappointment, Bogado highlighted a broader issue of insufficient support for national artists. "It saddens me that national artists lack support when we truly need it, especially for such a significant representation where I would have represented our country and brought our Guarani language to the world," she concluded.

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It saddens me that national artists lack support when we truly need it, especially for such a significant representation where I would have represented our country and brought our Guarani language to the world.