Paraguay confía en Orlando Gill para el debut ante Estados Unidos

Paraguay put its opening-match burden on Orlando Gill, handing the goalkeeper the assignment of absorbing early pressure against the United States as Gustavo Alfaro looked to keep the debut from slipping away. Alfaro told Gill on June 10 that he would start in goal, a clear sign of trust in a 26-year-old making his first World Cup appearance.

That decision came after Paraguay announced its 26-man squad on June 1, returning to the tournament after a 16-year absence. Paraguay had missed the last four editions, failing to qualify for South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Gill was one of three goalkeepers in the group, alongside Roberto Fernández and Gastón Olveira, and he entered a roster that also featured Julio Enciso, Miguel Almirón and Diego Gómez.

The stakes were immediate. Paraguay opened the group stage on June 12 against the United States, then was scheduled to face Turkey on June 20 and Australia on June 26. In that setting, the first-choice goalkeeper was more than a lineup detail. He was the point of calm behind a side trying to survive the early push from a stronger opponent and build momentum around a renewed World Cup return.

Gill’s profile added to the intrigue. Born on June 11, 2000, in San Lorenzo, Paraguay, he stands 1.98 meters and plays for San Lorenzo de Almagro in Argentina. His rise into the national team came with fresh international exposure, and his selection for the opener placed him at the center of Paraguay’s most visible stage in years.

At San Lorenzo de Almagro, the possibility of Gill starting in a World Cup opener carried obvious pride. It also offered a wider showcase for a club that would see one of its players entrusted with Paraguay’s most sensitive assignment: the first match, the first wave of pressure, and the first chance to prove the Albirroja could stay in the game.