Paraguay have relied on multiple big-time performances during their run to the 2026\u00a0FIFA World Cup<\/a> Round of 16.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n However, perhaps no player has personified La Albirroja\u2019s remarkable success at this summer\u2019s tournament more than Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> midfielder Andr\u00e9s Cubas<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s according to Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster, who\u2019s marveled from afar at Cubas\u2019 exploits on the world stage. That includes Tuesday\u2019s 120-minute shift that helped Paraguay earn a shock\u00a0penalty-shootout win<\/a> over four-time World Cup champions Germany in the Round of 32.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou need players who are up and ready to suffer because this actually means you have to have the mindset that you have to suffer in the game,” Schuster told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday. “And just defend and run and defend and run and defend and run and wait for your moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAndr\u00e9s is the perfect example of this player. We always say we can be successful without any given player, but Andr\u00e9s is the hardest to replace because of the way he plays and the skill set he has.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Cubas has played every minute at this World Cup for Paraguay, who recovered from a 4-1 loss<\/a> to the United States<\/a> in their Group D opener by beating T\u00fcrkiye and drawing with Australia to advance as a top third-place finisher. Then, in the Round of 32, they made their biggest statement yet<\/a> against Germany.\u00a0<\/p>\n The rugged midfielder displayed the same skillset that helped Vancouver reach the 2025 MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> finals, and has the \u2018Caps sitting atop the Western Conference standings (32 points) at the World Cup break.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI saw a stat that no other player in this World Cup has had so many interceptions and ball-winning situations,\u201d said Schuster. \u201cThat’s not a surprise to us because he’s doing that constantly for us. If you speak about the defensive-minded number 6, for me, he’s clearly the best in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOther sporting directors see that, and it’s interesting. If you speak with one or the other, it’s always \u2018Well, I like this player on your team.\u2019 Any sporting director can look and say, \u2018I like Thomas M\u00fcller<\/a>.\u2019 But the player that I would like to have the most is Andr\u00e9s because he is so unique and he’s such a specialist in what he does.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the German-born Schuster, Cubas was particularly impressive against his native country, rendering Die Mannschaft\u2019s star-studded attack largely toothless during a 1-1 draw that was eventually settled via penalty kicks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere were two hearts beating in me, because on one side I’m German, and on the other side, I always root for my players,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cIt was an interesting game to watch because I was winning on either side at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Andr\u00e9s Cubas has been EVERYWHERE for @Albirroja<\/a> during their historic @fifaworldcup<\/a> run. \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/cY6bwXM1JK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Cubas is one of three MLS-based players contributing to Paraguay\u2019s World Cup campaign, along with Atlanta United<\/a> playmaker Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a> and Orlando City<\/a> midfielder Braian Ojeda<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Almir\u00f3n has started three of La Albirroja\u2019s four games, missing only their Group D finale due to suspension. Meanwhile, Ojeda made his World Cup debut off the bench in the Round of 32.\u00a0<\/p>\n Add in Mat\u00edas Galarza, the\u00a0hero of their 1-0 win<\/a> over T\u00fcrkiye who spent the first half of the year on loan with Atlanta, and there\u2019s plenty of MLS flavor in a Paraguay side that’s reached the World Cup for the first time since 2010 via their sixth-place finish in South American qualifiers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beautiful thing about this World Cup \u2013 and I got asked at the beginning: Is it good that the World Cup got extended, that we have so many more teams?\u201d Schuster said. \u201cWould Paraguay even be in the World Cup if we still played with the old amount of teams?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Cape Verde is a success story. Cura\u00e7ao, they’re celebrating that they scored a goal against Germany, and they were crying and the coach was crying. Yesterday, I saw the coach of [DR] Congo crying and saying this is the biggest success this country has ever had, and they celebrate it like winning the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Paraguay celebrates advancing to the Round of 16 and gives thanks to the fans at Boston Stadium \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddfe pic.twitter.com\/g5wbe3Jn74<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n After dispatching Germany, things won\u2019t get any easier for Paraguay in the Round of 16: the mighty France await on Saturday at Philadelphia Stadium (5 pm ET | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock).<\/p>\n Led by Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 (six goals), reigning Ballon d\u2019Or winner Ousmane Dembel\u00e9 and an A-list supporting cast, Les Bleus are eying their third-straight tournament final and third overall World Cup title.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While France are the clear favorite, Schuster won’t completely rule out Paraguay matching their run to the 2010 quarterfinals. And if they win, they’ll meet Canada<\/a> or Morocco on July 9 in Houston.<\/p>\n “Paraguay has had a tremendous success already, and they have nothing to lose in this game. That’s their big advantage,” Schuster said.<\/p>\n “… Paraguay has played Argentina and Brazil in their qualification. They play them for the Copa [Am\u00e9rica]. They\u2019re used to playing against very, very good teams, and they got results against those teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n “So, let’s see what happens. That’s a beautiful, beautiful thing about this World Cup, that such things can happen, and people don’t know the results until they go to the stadium.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nIron-man midfielder<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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MLS foundation<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Another upset coming?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n