Omar Alderete

Omar Alderete is a left-footed centre-back and one of the cornerstones of Paraguay's defence, named in the provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Sunderland defender, who joined from Getafe in August 2025, is 29 at kick-off and brings 35 senior caps and three international goals toward the tournament.

Strong in the air and in the tackle, Alderete is a physical presence at the heart of a back line that Gustavo Alfaro has built on discipline and duels. He played his part in the clean sheet that helped seal Paraguay's place at the World Cup. That mix of size and reliability has made him a regular presence in the national-team setup and keeps him among Paraguay's established defensive options.

Alderete is a left-footed centre-back at 1.88m who is strong in both aerial and ground duels. His game is built on physicality and timing in the tackle, and his left-sided profile gives Paraguay balance across the back line. He defends the box well and is comfortable in a side that sits deep and protects its shape.

His reliability is the core of his value. In a Paraguay team that defends in numbers and keeps games low-scoring, a robust, dependable defender who wins his individual battles is exactly the type this Paraguay system relies on, and he chips in with the occasional goal.

Alderete hardens the Paraguay defence this cheap pick is built around — a left-footed centre-back strong in the air and in the tackle, and a regular in the back line that kept the clean sheet sealing qualification. At £10m, Paraguay are a Tier 4 side within the game's £200m card budget, drawn in Group D with the United States, Turkey and Australia.

His return is defensive. In a team that defends in numbers and keeps games low-scoring, Alderete wins the individual battles a low-priced pick leans on, with the occasional goal on top.