Mauricio impresses on Paraguay debut as World Cup bid gathers pace | OneFootball

Mauricio made a sharp Paraguay debut off the bench in a 1-0 win over Greece, strengthening his case for a 2026 World Cup place with the finals just over two months away in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

According to Globo.com, he was introduced 15 minutes into the second half in the final friendly window before the tournament, operating from the left after Diego Gomez was withdrawn and working in pockets behind the centre-forward.

The midfielder showed variety and weight in his passing and helped Paraguay manage possession in the closing stages.

Head coach Gustavo Alfaro was pleased with the cameo, praising his control and ability to pause the game when required. He has also said Mauricio can organise play in a team that may lack a natural playmaker to dictate tempo.

His club form for Palmeiras underpins the call-up, with three goals and two assists in 16 games this season. He supplied 11 assists last year and, despite new arrivals such as John Arias, has held a starting place with a run of 12 straight starts in 2026.

Previously capped at youth level by Brazil, he formalised Paraguayan nationality in February, making him eligible. He is of Paraguayan descent through his grandmother, and his father grew up in the country and speaks Guarani, also used in conversations with Gustavo Gomez, captain of Palmeiras and Paraguay.

Mauricio could feature against Morocco on Tuesday, then is due back at Palmeiras on Wednesday.

Source: Globo.com