SÃO PAULO – Palmeiras midfielder Maurício Magalhães Prado is now eligible to represent Paraguay internationally, and the newly minted Paraguayan citizen is eager to make an impact for La Albirroja, potentially featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 24-year-old recently secured his Paraguayan citizenship and has expressed a strong desire to contribute to Gustavo Alfaro’s squad.
Maurício, who recently celebrated a Campeonato Paulista title with Palmeiras alongside teammates Gustavo Gómez and Ramón Sosa, spoke with TNT Sports Brazil about his aspirations. He emphasized the long process of obtaining his Paraguayan documentation, stating, “It’s an anxiety that I have, now I’ve managed to acquire the documents, I’ve been looking for it for a long time, I was processing my Paraguayan documentation since last year.”
The midfielder’s eligibility comes as a boost for Paraguay ahead of the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July of 2026. According to Tigo Sports, Maurício’s father is Paraguayan, which facilitated the naturalization process. He is now officially cleared by FIFA to play for the national team.
Maurício’s journey to potentially representing Paraguay is rooted in family ties. He explained that his paternal grandmother was Paraguayan, and his father spent his childhood and adolescence in Paraguay before returning to Brazil for work. “We have roots in Paraguay,” he said. He initiated the citizenship process in 2025, receiving assistance from his Palmeiras teammate, Gustavo Gómez, in convincing Alfaro to consider him for the national team.
The Palmeiras player highlighted the importance of continued strong performances with his club. “I have to do my job well here at Palmeiras to have this opportunity. I always believe about this very strong connection [with Paraguay],” he affirmed. He hopes Alfaro will recognize his form and see how he can contribute to the national team’s success.
Since joining Palmeiras in 2024, Maurício has become a key player for the Brazilian club, appearing in 81 matches across all competitions, including the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, Campeonato Paulista, Copa Libertadores, and even the Club World Cup. He has also demonstrated a knack for scoring, netting 16 goals – surpassing his assist total of 12. These numbers underscore his offensive contributions and potential value to the Paraguayan national team.
Paraguay is drawn into Group D for the 2026 World Cup, facing the United States, Australia, and the winner of the Path C playoff in the European Qualifiers (Romania, Kosovo, Turkey, and Slovakia). Before the tournament, La Albirroja has scheduled friendly matches to prepare, including a March 27th match against Greece in Athens and a April 1st encounter with Morocco in France – the latter being a particularly engaging matchup as Morocco will face Brazil in their World Cup opener.
These upcoming friendlies represent a crucial opportunity for Maurício to showcase his abilities and potentially earn a spot in Alfaro’s final World Cup roster. The Paraguayan coach, however, has stated that he did not specifically request any players to pursue nationalization, according to reports. Despite this, Maurício remains optimistic and focused on proving his worth.
The possibility of representing Paraguay is not just a professional aspiration for Maurício; it’s a deeply personal one. He emphasized that achieving this dream would be a source of immense pride for his entire family. “I have that dream, I know it’s close, what I have left is to work. If they can look at my football a little and see that I’m performing well and can help the national team, I hope it’s an honor and surely, it will be a dream come true, not only for me but also for my family, for my parents,” he concluded.
Maurício’s story is a testament to the growing trend of players leveraging dual citizenship to pursue international opportunities. His dedication to securing Paraguayan citizenship, coupled with his strong performances for Palmeiras, positions him as a potential asset for La Albirroja as they prepare for the challenges of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Fans will be watching closely to see if his dream of representing Paraguay becomes a reality.
Next up for Maurício is continued action with Palmeiras as they navigate the Brasileirão season. The midfielder will undoubtedly be using every opportunity to impress Alfaro and stake his claim for a place in the Paraguayan squad.
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