Diego Gomez couldn’t get the words out. The 23-year-old Paraguayan midfielder, seated at a press conference table in Los Angeles on June 12, tried to articulate what it means to represent his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His voice cracked. The tears came. His coach, Gustavo Alfaro, offered support as Gomez composed himself.

Paraguay’s last World Cup appearance came in 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals in South Africa. What followed was a long, painful slide out of global relevance.

Gomez, whose full name is Diego Alexander Gomez Amarilla, has become one of the faces of Paraguay’s resurgence. Born on March 27, 2003, he’s part of a generation that never experienced World Cup football firsthand as players. On September 10, 2024, Gomez scored his first senior international goal in a 1-0 victory over Brazil during the qualifying campaign.

From Inter Miami to Brighton

After rising through the youth ranks at Club Libertad in Paraguay, Gomez joined Inter Miami in July 2023. Brighton and Hove Albion came calling in January 2025, with the transfer fee reported at around 14 million pounds, roughly 25 million euros, a club-record sum for the English Premier League side.

What Paraguay’s return means for Group D

Paraguay has been drawn into Group D alongside co-hosts the United States. Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay’s coach, was present at the press conference alongside Gomez, offering emotional support during the event.