For a team returning to the tournament for the first time since 2010, stability could be priceless. The report says Paraguay are due to use the Spartan Complex, CEFCU Stadium and the university’s high-performance facilities during the group stage.
That matters because tournament football is often won in the margins:
Teniente-Matson also called it “an extraordinary opportunity to unite our students, alumni, and community around the world’s game,” again according to the update. From Paraguay’s point of view, the bigger opportunity is competitive: create a home-away-from-home and squeeze every advantage from it.
The schedule looks awkward but intriguing. Paraguay are set to open against the United States in Los Angeles on 12 June, then head north for meetings with Turkey on 19 June and Australia on 25 June.
There is no soft landing there.
If Paraguay are to progress, they will probably need the defensive steel and collective discipline that have traditionally defined their best sides.
The base camp story is only the backdrop; the real drama will come once Paraguay hit the pitch. Their opener with the United States should set the tone, while the two Bay Area games could decide whether this is merely a welcome return to the World Cup or the start of a genuine knockout-stage push.