After 12 years in the wilderness, Paraguay returned to the World Cup their first appearance since 1986. Paulo César Carpegiani was the man tasked with guiding them back.
Paraguay's tournament was a mixed affair, with promising moments offset by results that ultimately cut their journey short. Their defence proved to be the backbone of the campaign, conceding just 2 goals in 4 outings.
Paraguay emerged from the group stage unbeaten, showing resilience in a tough opening round. In the knockout rounds, they were narrowly knocked out by France in the Round of 16. The narrowest of defeats against France ended what had been a promising tournament run.
1won2drawn1lost
3scored2conceded
Conceded just 2 in 4 matches failed to score in 3 of 4 matches.
Miguel Ángel Benítez led Paraguay's attack with 1 goal at the 1998 World Cup. Shared the top-scorer honours with Ayala and Cardozo, all with 1.
Conceded in only 2 of 4 matches
The tactical mind behind Paraguay's 1998 campaign. A Brazilian at the helm leading Paraguay at his first World Cup.
Paraguay's squad relied on a few key players to score their goals, but ultimately fell short against more experienced opponents. Their defensive strategy was solid, resulting in three draws and only one victory.
