Sport in Paraguay
Encyclopedia
Sport in Paraguay is an important part of Paraguay
an national culture. Football is easily the most popular sport, while other sports such as rugby union
, volleyball
, basketball
, and tennis
all have significant popularity. Chess
, futsal
, golf
, motorsport
, and rowing
are also noteworthy Paraguayan sports and pastimes.
by Dutchman William Paats
, who moved from the Netherlands
to Asunción
in 1888. In 1900, small tournaments were held at the Plaza de Armas
, a plaza
located in downtown Asunción. By 1906 the number of football clubs in Paraguay had increased and the Paraguayan Football Association, the governing body of football in Paraguay, was founded. The Paraguayan Football Association joined CONMEBOL
in 1921, and FIFA
in 1925. Football has grown enormously since then, and there are over 1600 teams spread throughout Paraguay participating in multiple leagues. Each of those teams try to make their way to the first division
by clearing the different levels of lower divisions. The growth and evolution of Paraguayan football can be seen in the achievements made in the club level and by the Paraguayan national football team. The national team has participated in eight World Cups
, won two Copa América
tournaments, and obtained a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 2004. All these accomplishments established Paraguay as the fourth most successful football nation in South America behind Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. At the club level, Olimpia Asunción
has won a total of eight international tournaments, including three Copa Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup
. Among the most important and successful football players in Paraguayan history are Arsenio Erico
, Aurelio González, Romerito and José Luis Chilavert
.
. The sport's governing body, the Paraguayan Rugby Union (Union de Rugby del Paraguay), was founded in 1970 and joined the IRFB in 1989. South American rugby has historically been dominated by Argentina
, and to a lesser extent Uruguay
(both of which have qualified for the Rugby World Cup
), but the sport can be found in almost all nations in South America, including Paraguay. This is partly due to massive immigration from Europe
, notably the British Isles
, France
, and Italy
. It is difficult to single out one of these nations as being primarily responsible for the birth of Paraguayan rugby, as illustrated by Asuncion Rugby Club, which was formed by two Britons, two Argentines, a Dutchman, and a New Zealand
er. The French have also taken a special interest in Paraguayan rugby, to the point of supplying a paid director of coaching, Jean-Pierre Juan Chich.
The first Paraguayan rugby player of note was Nelson Ayala, who played with the English club Saracens F.C.
in the 1950s, and also played a prominent part in developing the game in his home country. In 1970, a second club was set up in Asuncion, the Club Universitario de Asunción (CURDA), which became the first ever Paraguayan team to tour the United Kingdom when they did so in the 1980s. By 1988, there were over twenty rugby clubs in Paraguay, a figure which has remained relatively steady ever since. The main clubs in Paraguay include CURDA, San José RC, Old King, Leones de Encarnación, Santa Clara, Asunción RC, Universidad Autónoma, Laque, Los Cuervos, Los Jabalíes, Paraná RC., Cristo Rey RC and C.I.T..
won a silver medal in the South American Volleyball Championship in 1958, and two bronze medals, in 1956 and 1979. The women's national team
won a silver medal at the 1964 South American Volleyball Championship, and a bronze medal in the 1967 edition.
(FIBA). The PBF organizes both the National League (for teams outside of Asunción
) and the Metropolitan League
(for teams from Asunción), and runs the Paraguay national basketball team
. The best achievements by the national team were their two second-place finishes in the South American Basketball Championship in 1955 and 1960.
competed in its first Davis Cup
in 1931, and their best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 1983-85 and again in 1987. The Paraguay Fed Cup team
competed in its first Fed Cup
in 1991, and their best result was qualifying for the World Group Play-offs in 1995. Notable tennis players from Paraguay include Victor Caballero
, Hugo Chapacú
, Ramón Delgado
, Francisco González, Víctor Pecci
, and Rossana de los Ríos
.
, futsal
, golf, motorsport, and rowing are also noteworthy Paraguayan sports and pastimes.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an national culture. Football is easily the most popular sport, while other sports such as rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
all have significant popularity. Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
, and rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
are also noteworthy Paraguayan sports and pastimes.
Football
Football is by far the most popular sport in Paraguay to the point that it is part of the nation's culture. Football was first introduced in ParaguayParaguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
by Dutchman William Paats
William Paats
William Paats was a Dutch sports instructor.Often regarded as "the father of Paraguayan football", Paats' family moved to Asunción, Paraguay in 1894...
, who moved from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
in 1888. In 1900, small tournaments were held at the Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is the name for the main square in many Latin American cities. In Mexico this space is known as El Zócalo, and in Central America as Parque Central...
, a plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
located in downtown Asunción. By 1906 the number of football clubs in Paraguay had increased and the Paraguayan Football Association, the governing body of football in Paraguay, was founded. The Paraguayan Football Association joined CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
in 1921, and FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1925. Football has grown enormously since then, and there are over 1600 teams spread throughout Paraguay participating in multiple leagues. Each of those teams try to make their way to the first division
Liga Paraguaya: Primera División
The División Profesional de la Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol , also known as the Primera División , or due to sponsorship reasons Copa TIGO, is the top-flight professional football league in Paraguay...
by clearing the different levels of lower divisions. The growth and evolution of Paraguayan football can be seen in the achievements made in the club level and by the Paraguayan national football team. The national team has participated in eight World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, won two Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
tournaments, and obtained a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 2004. All these accomplishments established Paraguay as the fourth most successful football nation in South America behind Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. At the club level, Olimpia Asunción
Olimpia Asunción
Club Olimpia is a Paraguayan sport club based in Asunción. It is best known for its professional football team which plays in the Paraguayan Primera División....
has won a total of eight international tournaments, including three Copa Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
. Among the most important and successful football players in Paraguayan history are Arsenio Erico
Arsenio Erico
Arsenio Pastor Erico was a Paraguayan football forward. He is the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division...
, Aurelio González, Romerito and José Luis Chilavert
José Luis Chilavert
José Luis Félix Chilavert González is a Paraguayan former football player who played as a goalkeeper. He was a three-time IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award winner....
.
Rugby union
Rugby union is another popular sport in Paraguay. With 4,355 registered players and nineteen clubs, the country currently ranks 38th worldwide and 5th in South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The sport's governing body, the Paraguayan Rugby Union (Union de Rugby del Paraguay), was founded in 1970 and joined the IRFB in 1989. South American rugby has historically been dominated by Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and to a lesser extent Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
(both of which have qualified for the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
), but the sport can be found in almost all nations in South America, including Paraguay. This is partly due to massive immigration from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, notably the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is difficult to single out one of these nations as being primarily responsible for the birth of Paraguayan rugby, as illustrated by Asuncion Rugby Club, which was formed by two Britons, two Argentines, a Dutchman, and a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
er. The French have also taken a special interest in Paraguayan rugby, to the point of supplying a paid director of coaching, Jean-Pierre Juan Chich.
The first Paraguayan rugby player of note was Nelson Ayala, who played with the English club Saracens F.C.
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
in the 1950s, and also played a prominent part in developing the game in his home country. In 1970, a second club was set up in Asuncion, the Club Universitario de Asunción (CURDA), which became the first ever Paraguayan team to tour the United Kingdom when they did so in the 1980s. By 1988, there were over twenty rugby clubs in Paraguay, a figure which has remained relatively steady ever since. The main clubs in Paraguay include CURDA, San José RC, Old King, Leones de Encarnación, Santa Clara, Asunción RC, Universidad Autónoma, Laque, Los Cuervos, Los Jabalíes, Paraná RC., Cristo Rey RC and C.I.T..
Volleyball
Volleyball is also a noteworthy sport in Paraguay. The men's national teamParaguay men's national volleyball team
The Paraguay men's national volleyball team represents Paraguay in international volleyball competitions. In the 1950s the squad twice won a medal at the South American Championship, and again won another bronze medal in 1979 in Rosario, Argentina....
won a silver medal in the South American Volleyball Championship in 1958, and two bronze medals, in 1956 and 1979. The women's national team
Paraguay women's national volleyball team
The Paraguay women's national volleyball team represents Paraguay in international volleyball competitions. In the 1960s the squad twice won a medal at the South American Championship. Paraguay also participated in the 1982 FIVB Women's World Championship in Lima, Peru.-South American...
won a silver medal at the 1964 South American Volleyball Championship, and a bronze medal in the 1967 edition.
Basketball
Basketball in Paraguay dates back to 1936, when no governing body existed, and the sport was governed by the Paraguayan Sports Association. The Paraguayan Basketball Federation (PBF, Confederación Paraguaya de Basket) was formed as the governing body in 1947, the same year it joined the International Basketball FederationInternational Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball...
(FIBA). The PBF organizes both the National League (for teams outside of Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
) and the Metropolitan League
Paraguayan Metropolitan Basketball League
The Paraguayan Metropolitan Basketball League is the most important basketball league from Paraguay. As of 2006, 11 teams are participating in the league. The yearly winners of this league are considered the Paraguayan basketball champions despite the fact that only teams from Asunción compete...
(for teams from Asunción), and runs the Paraguay national basketball team
Paraguay national basketball team
The Paraguay national basketball team is the team governed by the Paraguayan Basketball Federation that represents Paraguay in the men's international basketball competitions organized by the International Basketball Federation and the International Olympic Committee .The best achievements by the...
. The best achievements by the national team were their two second-place finishes in the South American Basketball Championship in 1955 and 1960.
Tennis
Tennis is also a significant sport in Paraguay. The Paraguay Davis Cup teamParaguay Davis Cup team
The Paraguay Davis Cup team represents Paraguay in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by Asociación Paraguaya de Tenis.Paraguay currently compete in Group II of the Americas Zone. They have played in the World Group on seven occasions, reaching the quarterfinals four...
competed in its first Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
in 1931, and their best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 1983-85 and again in 1987. The Paraguay Fed Cup team
Paraguay Fed Cup team
The Paraguay Fed Cup team represents Paraguay in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Federación Paraguaya de Tenis.Paraguay competed in Americas Zone Group I in 2011 - its fourth consecutive year at this level.-History:...
competed in its first Fed Cup
Fed Cup
Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation...
in 1991, and their best result was qualifying for the World Group Play-offs in 1995. Notable tennis players from Paraguay include Victor Caballero
Victor Caballero
Victor Caballero is a former tennis player from Paraguay, who represented his native country as a lucky loser at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. There he was defeated in the first round by qualifier Zeeshan Ali from India.-References:...
, Hugo Chapacú
Hugo Chapacu
Hugo Chapacú is a former tennis player, who represented Paraguay at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. There he was defeated in the first round by qualifier Andrei Cherkasov from the Soviet Union. The right-hander reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on October 19, 1987, when he became the...
, Ramón Delgado
Ramon Delgado
Ramón Delgado is a tennis player from Paraguay, who turned professional in 1995. At the 1998 French Open, he defeated Pete Sampras in the second round. He has not won a single title during his career so far...
, Francisco González, Víctor Pecci
Víctor Pecci
Víctor Pecci is a former professional Paraguayan tennis player. Pecci was born in Asunción.Pecci was ranked as high as World No. 9 in singles in 1980 and World No. 31 in doubles in 1984. Pecci is famous for reaching the 1979 French Open final...
, and Rossana de los Ríos
Rossana de los Rios
Rossana de los Ríos born September 16, 1975 is a professional tennis player from Paraguay. As of June 14, 2010, she is ranked World No. 92 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour...
.
Other sports
ChessChess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, futsal
Futsal in Paraguay
The practice of futsal in Paraguay is very popular and is one of the most practiced sports in the country. The governing body for futsal in Paraguay is the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol , which controls the Paraguay national futsal team and is in charge of the organization of the Campeonato de...
, golf, motorsport, and rowing are also noteworthy Paraguayan sports and pastimes.