Enciso Cleared for Paraguay's Friday Debut Against the United States

Julio Enciso can play for Paraguay against the United States on Friday at 22:00 after getting through the steps he had to complete following a recent knock. Gustavo Alfaro said the forward is in very good condition and has no injury, leaving the final choice to the hours before Paraguay’s World Cup debut.

Alfaro’s decision window

Alfaro said Enciso completed everything required after the hit and can be used if the coach wants him in the starting eleven. The timing matters because Paraguay is preparing for its first World Cup match after three consecutive absences, and the lineup call will come close to kickoff rather than days in advance.

The coach kept the spotlight on availability, not certainty. He said he has not yet revealed which of the three goalkeepers will start against the United States, another selection that will stay open until late in the build-up to Friday night.

Paraguay’s return stage

Thursday’s press conference also carried the emotion of the return itself. Diego Gómez cried in front of reporters, and Alfaro told him, “Esto es lo que sentimos todos”. Gómez answered, “Es un profe magnífico, siempre me dio confianza y a toda mi familia le dio ese abrazo. Gracias a él pudimos lograrlo otra vez”.

Alfaro framed the squad’s route back to the tournament around experience and shared effort. He said, “Este equipo tiene experiencia en un montón de batallas para llegar hasta acá. Ellos ya ganaron cuando estuvieron de pie en los momentos más adversos. Recuperaron el ADN del país, contagiaron al país”.

Gómez and Bobadilla

The coach also pointed to Diego Gómez and Damián Bobadilla as players who can cover the whole field. “Jugadores como Diego Gómez y Damián Bobadilla te cubren todo el campo. Para mí, son todocampistas”, he said, while adding that the team will need to manage the details between matches in the tournament setting.

Enciso’s availability gives Paraguay another option for a debut that already carries weight after three straight World Cup absences. Friday at 22:00 will tell whether he starts or comes in later, but the more immediate answer is that he is available after the knock and ready to be used.