Asunción, Paraguay — The countdown is almost over. On Thursday at 8:30 p.m. local time, Paraguay will host Ecuador in a crucial World Cup qualifier, a match that could reignite a dream millions of Paraguayans have carried for 15 long years: returning to the global stage of soccer.

Paraguay’s last World Cup appearance came in South Africa 2010, when the Albirroja made history by reaching the quarterfinals. Since then, the road has been filled with frustration. Three consecutive tournaments — Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 — slipped away despite moments of promise. Each campaign ended in heartbreak, leaving a generation of fans who have never seen their team on football’s biggest stage.

Now, with a squad that blends youthful energy and experienced leadership, Paraguay believes it has found a new formula. Playing at home in the Defensores del Chaco stadium, the team will look to turn the weight of history into motivation. “We know what this match means, not just for us, but for the entire country,” the coach said this week.

In Asunción, excitement is building to fever pitch. Street vendors are selling jerseys and flags, bars are preparing for packed crowds, and large screens in plazas are set to broadcast the game. For many, Thursday’s clash is more than a qualifier — it’s a chance to erase years of disappointment. “We’ve waited too long,” said one fan draped in the national colors. “This time, it feels different.”

Paraguay’s task, however, will not be simple. Ecuador arrives as a tough and disciplined opponent, and every point is vital in the unforgiving South American qualifiers. Yet the Albirroja hold one undeniable advantage: the energy of a home crowd desperate to see their team back on the world’s grandest stage.

At 8:30 p.m., when the whistle blows in Asunción, Paraguay will be playing for more than victory. It will be fighting against the weight of three failed campaigns, the memory of 15 years without a World Cup — and for the dream of millions who believe this could be the year the Albirroja finally returns.