Ángel Romero dealt harsh blow: no World Cup after Boca slump

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·2 June 2026

Ángel Romero dealt harsh blow: no World Cup after Boca slump

Ángel Romero used his social media to speak out after being left out by Gustavo Alfaro from Paraguay’s final list of 26 players called up for the 2026 World Cup, despite having been included in the preliminary squad of 55 footballers.

The 33-year-old forward had signed for Boca Juniors in January as a free agent from Corinthians, with the aim of getting playing time and securing his place at the World Cup. However, his current spell at the Argentine club did not go as expected: he totaled only 13 appearances and one goal (against Huracán in the Apertura Tournament), starting just five times — without finishing a single match — and remaining on the bench without coming on in four other games.

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The forward’s statement on Instagram

Through a story on his official account, the attacker shared the following message:

“For more than a decade, I have had the honor of wearing and defending the Paraguay National Team, especially during one of the most difficult periods in our history. That is why it would also have been very special for me to experience this moment and play in the 2026 World Cup with my country. But football is like that. These are decisions that do not depend on just one person. We may agree with them or not, but we must always respect them. For my part, I am left with the pride of everything I experienced throughout these qualifiers, of every match and every opportunity I had to represent Paraguay. It fills me with joy to see our national team return to a World Cup after 16 years. I know what this moment means for our people, and I am proud to have contributed my little bit so that Paraguay can return to the place it deserves. Before being a football player, I am proud to be Paraguayan, and we must all support the team together at this historic moment. They are the ones who will sing our anthem before the world, and I am more than sure they will represent us in the best possible way.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.