Tunis—Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro believes Morocco’s rise in international football is the result of long-term planning rather than a short-lived peak.
Speaking ahead of the friendly between Paraguay and Morocco on March 31, Alfaro was adamant that what Morocco is doing goes beyond results on the pitch.
“Football in Morocco is constantly expanding, and it is moving in the same direction as the national team’s performance. I see them as strong contenders in this World Cup, and there’s no need to talk about the next World Cup because they are already working towards it,” Alfaro said.
For him, Morocco’s current level is tied to a broader project that looks ahead to 2030, including ambitions of hosting the World Cup. In his view, that kind of planning is what sets teams apart over time.
He then turned to Paraguay, using Morocco as a point of comparison.
🎙️El DT de la selección paraguaya, Gustavo Alfaro, habló del partido amistoso que se viene contra Marruecos y advirtió que demandará la misma intensidad física que el juego contra Grecia.
🗣️”El partido contra Marruecos va a demandar la misma o más intensidad física. La idea mía… pic.twitter.com/8I5K5c7CrF
— Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) March 30, 2026
“What I hope for is that Paraguay has the same vision. Paraguay is not thinking about 2030,” he said.
The coach did not hide his frustration when it comes to timing and preparation.
“We shouldn’t start thinking after this World Cup; we should have started two years ago, because players who are 15, 16, and 17 years old today will be 20, 21, and 22 by 2030,” Alfaro continued. “We cannot start preparing them just two years before the event.”
The match between the two teams will be played at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Paraguay come into the game after a 1–0 win over Greece, continuing a strong run under Alfaro that secured their place at the World Cup. Morocco, meanwhile, drew 1–1 with Ecuador in their last outing and remain one of the most closely watched teams heading into the tournament.
This friendly will be between teams that have two different trajectories: one already building toward the next cycle and another being urged by its coach to start doing the same.
Read also: Spanish Press Impressed by Morocco’s Fightback Against Ecuador
