Estadio Nacional del Paraguay – design description

How did plans for Paraguay's new National Stadium come about?

In 2017, Uruguay and Argentina officially announced their intention to bid to host the 2030 World Cup, with Paraguay joining the initiative later that year and Chile also joining in 2019. The special occasion for hosting the 2030 World Cup in South America was to be the 100th anniversary of the first tournament, which was held in Uruguay.

On October 4, 2023, FIFA officially announced the hosts of the 2030 World Cup. The tournament will be held mainly in Spain, Portugal and Morocco (at the end of the selection process, this was the only counter-candidate of South American countries), but in connection with the 100th anniversary, a gesture was also made towards Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, which will each host one game at the start of the tournament.

When were plans for Paraguay's new National Stadium unveiled?

At the end of July 2024, on the occasion of the publication of the bids of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, as well as Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to host the 2030 World Cup (bid book), proposals were presented, among other things, for a stadium in Paraguay that would host one World Cup match.

The bid book presented a project to upgrade Estadio Defensores del Chaco, which could possibly also be adapted to upgrade Estadio General Pablo Rojas or Estadio Manuel Ferreira. As an alternative, a project for a completely new National Stadium of Paraguay was presented.

Previously, it seemed that Paraguay's World Cup match would be held at the Estadio CONMEBOL. This was to be a brand new stadium, a very preliminary concept of which was unveiled in 2023, but there were later no new reports on the project.

What were the plans for Paraguay's new National Stadium?

The new National Stadium was to be built in the northern part of Paraguay's capital, Asunción, on the banks of the Paraguay River, at Avenida Costanera Norte. The facility was to be a football-specific one, with a capacity of about 47,000 spectators. Plenty of parking spaces were planned around the stadium.

The stands were to slope slightly toward the north and be covered by a flat, translucent roof. From the outside, they were to be surrounded by thin reinforced concrete columns. The facade was to be enhanced with LED lighting, changing colors depending on the occasion.

The stadium was to include VIP areas, seats for journalists and wheelchair users. It was also assumed to be equipped with the latest technologies, as well as solutions in line with the ideas of sustainable development. The stadium was to be given a dynamic, modern form, although the design was also inspired by traditional embroidery products, the so-called ñandutí.

What role was the new National Stadium of Paraguay to play?

The impetus for the stadium's construction was to host a match during the 2030 World Cup, but the investment would give Paraguay a brand new, modern National Stadium, replacing the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in that role. The stadium could host more major events, and would serve the country's national team and local clubs, as well as cultural and other events.

Will Paraguay's new National Stadium be built?

The concept originated as one of the proposals in connection with the need for Paraguay to prepare a suitable facility for the 2030 World Cup. If it was decided to build a new National Stadium, according to preliminary arrangements, the work would be carried out between 2026 and 2028. The facility would be owned by the Paraguayan Football Federation (APF) and managed by a company under it.

On December 11, 2024, however, it was announced that the venue for the 2030 World Cup from Paraguay would be a rebuilt stadium owned by Club Olimpia. So the National Stadium for the World Cup will not be built, but it is not impossible that discussions about it in one form or another will return in the future.