Football in Paraguay Football in Paraguay Football is by far the most popular sport in Paraguay to the point that it is part of the nation's culture. Football arrived to Paraguay in the late 1800s. There are differing versions as to how this happened. The most commonly held account is that of William Paats. This account has much primary source documentation (newspaper articles) As this version goes, football was first introduced in Paraguay by Dutchman William Paats, who moved from the Netherlands to Asunción (the capital of Paraguay) in 1888. During a trip to Buenos Aires Paats bought a football and brought it
History of the Paraguay national football team History of the Paraguay national football team The history of the Paraguay national football team began in 1910 when the national team played a friendly match. The Paraguay played its first international in 1919, a 5–1 loss to Argentina. Paraguay have won the Copa América twice, in 1953 and 1979. Soon after the introduction of football in Paraguay by Williams Paats, the Liga Paraguaya de Futbol (today Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol) was created in 1906. The first national football team was organized in 1910 when an invitation by the Argentine club Hércules of Corrientes was received to play a friendly