when The first World Cup match in the United States As the match kicks off, most eyes will be on the host country’s home team. But for the small Paraguayan community living in the United States, this is a moment in the spotlight for their cherished team, which returns to the tournament after a 16-year absence.
Paraguay fans across the United States were planning barbecues and get-togethers to watch the team’s group stage matches. While many I objected to the prices For Friday’s game against the United States, which sold out for more than $1,000 each, some have already purchased tickets for later games.
Among them is Santiago Araujo, 32 years old. His family owns one of the few Paraguayan restaurants in the United States, in the coastal city of Pacific Grove, California. He and his brother scored tickets to watch the team take on Australia in Santa Clara, California, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) away.
“Every Paraguayan I know wants to go,” said Araujo, who moved to California with his family when he was 11. “It’s not like there are seasons for any other sport in Paraguay. I used to sleep with soccer as my game.”
There are about 37,000 Paraguayans living in the United States, according to census estimates, and they are excited about the team’s long-awaited return to the United States. Precious FIFA Championship. It is the first time Paraguay has done this He earned a place in the World Cup Since 2010, when he achieved his best performance, reaching the quarter-finals. The team, which is currently ranked 40th in the world in the World Cup, is participating in its ninth World Cup.
The United States and Paraguay joined In group D Paraguay will meet Türkiye and Australia on June 19 and 25, respectively, in Santa Clara.
One of Paraguay’s veteran players, midfielder Miguel AlmironHe plays for Atlanta United in the Major League Soccer. At 32, he remembers watching the 2010 World Cup finals as a child with the hope that he too would have the chance to play on football’s biggest stage one day.
It’s been a long wait.
“It will be beautiful in that moment, not only for me, but also for my family, for all the Paraguayan fans, and for everyone who was with us during all the difficult moments,” Almiron said recently, reflecting before the first match. “There will be a lot of emotions at that moment. We are dealing with it responsibly, because we know that a lot of people are counting on us.”
Paraguay is among the least populated countries in South America, with a population of about 7 million people. It is a landlocked country, surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil and known for its vast savannahs, lush landscapes and forests. Indigenous Guarani culture. In the United States, the most concentrated Paraguayan communities can be found in New York and the affluent city of Bernardsville, New Jersey, which Paraguayan President Santiago Peña visited in 2024.
To cheer on the team, Paraguayan fans will wear red and white jerseys and tube hats. And in Northern California, Café Guarani, owned by the Araujo family, is hosting a celebration that brings Paraguayan fans together with traditional dishes including cassava empanadas and iced yerba mate. In Queens, New York, they will gather at the I Love Paraguay restaurant to watch the matches.
Anna De Sisa, from New Jersey, said she would like to attend the games in California, but it is too long a trip.
“It’s not just about tickets, you have to pay for your hotel stay and flights,” she said. “Not many people will be able to go there.”
Zoraida Pereira, a travel agent in Bernardsville, said she had sold out shows to fans heading to Santa Clara, but not the opening game because of ticket prices. The 43-year-old, who was born in Paraguay but has lived in the United States for more than 30 years, said it was difficult to choose between the two countries on the pitch.
“I’m rooting for Paraguay this time,” she said. “They’ve been out for a long time.”
The madness is also taking place more than 5,000 miles (8,046 kilometers) away in Paraguay, where the documentary “El Renacer Albirrojo” about La Albiroja’s years-long journey back to the World Cup has been released. The team was sent to the United States amid great fanfare of fireworks, and some community members in the United States said they had friends and family traveling from Paraguay to attend the games.
Rodrigo Valdez, a computer engineer in San Diego, plans to travel more than 450 miles (724 kilometers) to Santa Clara to watch the team’s game. The 34-year-old was born in the United States, spent his childhood in Paraguay and is enjoying the attention the team is getting.
He said he will watch Friday’s game with family and friends in San Diego. Despite having a 4-month-old child, his wife encouraged him to buy a ticket to the match with Australia as a gift for his first Father’s Day.
“It was a unique opportunity for us to live in California,” Valdez said. “It would make a lot of sense.”
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Associated Press Sports Writer Maura Carey in Atlanta contributed reporting.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup