On June 13 UTC time, the Paraguay team, returning to the World Cup finals after 16 years, is about to challenge the host USA team. At the pre-match press conference, Paraguay coach Alfaro and midfielder Diego Gomez were overcome with emotion, embracing and weeping.
Football is always closely intertwined with emotions, but even so, it is rare to see so closely what the sport means to players. At the press conference held before Paraguay's first match of the 2026 World Cup against host USA, everyone truly felt this emotion.
For Paraguay, returning to the World Cup stage after 16 years is in itself an extraordinary event.
Paraguay's coach, Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, stated: "This is a moment full of accomplishment and joy. We know how much the entire nation needs this moment, and we also know how much effort and struggle the players have gone through over the years to achieve this goal."
"We are well aware that this is by no means an ordinary match. This is a special match, different, with a unique significance that we may never experience again."
For Alfaro, this is his second World Cup.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he led Ecuador. In a previous interview with FIFA, he described that experience as "the most sublime and wonderful experience of my coaching career."
Because of this, Alfaro already has a certain amount of major tournament experience as he approaches the first match of this World Cup. However, for most of his players, everything is a new beginning.
The 23-year-old versatile midfielder Diego Gomez told FIFA: "Since childhood, I have always dreamed of representing my country in the World Cup. I am truly very happy and very excited. I can't wait for tomorrow's match."
Then, Gomez showed the public what it truly means to stand on the world stage representing one's country.
He said: "I am usually a calm person, but to be honest, I know how strong the expectations and passion of the Paraguayan people are for us. We know what it means to represent our country, especially after successfully qualifying for the World Cup. To make our homeland proud, we will always give 100%."
"To be able to stand here, to represent my country in the World Cup, and this is a goal we achieved again after a long wait, I am truly very happy. This is a redemption... and in fact..."
At this point, the usually somewhat shy Gomez suddenly lost control of his emotions.
When talking about his homeland and the World Cup dream, his eyes began to redden, his voice gradually choked up, and he eventually could no longer speak.
This scene was deeply moving. Seeing his beloved player overcome with emotion, Alfaro immediately went to embrace him, summarizing everyone's feelings with one sentence:
"No words can express it anymore, this is how we feel. This is also how all of Paraguay feels at this moment."
Next, Paraguay hopes to transform this excitement and passion into momentum on the field.
Last November, the two teams played a friendly match, in which the USA team narrowly defeated Paraguay. Therefore, Paraguay also hopes to make an impact in the World Cup.
Although Gomez was too emotional to speak, Alfaro remained confident.
He said: "We believe in our abilities. We also believe in the tradition Paraguay has left in World Cup history. Paraguay has always been a tough and resilient team in the World Cup."
Finally, Alfaro expressed the team's goal for this World Cup: "We came with passion, and with the determination to fight to the end."
"Our goal is not just to participate in the World Cup, but to truly compete. We hope that through our efforts, we can ultimately achieve the results that the team and the entire country expect to see."