The Anthem
Paraguayos, República o Muerte
▶ Listen on YouTube ↗“Paraguayos, ¡República o Muerte! / Paraguayans, Republic or Death!”
One of the most defiant anthem titles in the world.
The Legends
Names that echo
José Luis Chilavert
Goalkeeper · 1990s–2000s
A keeper who took free kicks and penalties — and scored dozens of goals.
Roque Santa Cruz
Forward · 2000s–10s
Bayern and Premier League striker, Paraguay's elegant talisman.
Salvador Cabañas
Forward · 2000s
Prolific marksman whose career was tragically cut short.
Fun Facts
Worth knowing
- 01
Paraguay is one of the few officially bilingual countries where an Indigenous language, Guaraní, is spoken by most of the population.
- 02
Goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert scored over 60 career goals — a world record for a keeper.
- 03
Its 2010 side reached the quarter-finals without losing a single match in normal time.
At the World Cup
The story so far
A founder nation and South American mainstay, Paraguay is famed for its defensive steel and big-game keepers. Its golden run came in 2010, reaching the last eight.
Into the last eight
Paraguay won a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time, against Japan, to reach a maiden quarter-final.
Group Stage