World news story

Diplomatic World Cup in Paraguay unites in football and fraternity

Over twenty teams joined a day of football in the first ever diplomatic World Cup in Paraguay.

Diplomatic World Cup 2022 logo

EN: Official image of the Diplomatic World Cup Asuncion 2022 / ES: Imagen Oficial de la Copa Mundial Diplomática Asunción 2022

The British Embassy in Asuncion, with the support of the Paraguay Football Association (APF) organized the first ever diplomatic football tournament, named “Diplomatic World Cup Asuncion 2022”. The tournament took place at the “Defensores del Chaco” national football stadium and saw the Paraguay delegation as the winner of the tournament.

Paraguay team photo

EN: Paraguay brought home the Diplomatic World Cup Asunción 2022 / ES: Paraguay trajo a casa la Copa Mundial Diplomática Asunción 2022

The tournament ran in two parallel competitions. The main cup, also known as the “World Cup” saw the delegations of France and Paraguay clash together in a fierce final match, with a Paraguay victory of 5-0. The “Silver cup” brought together the runner-up teams from the elimination phase, with a victory from the Korea team 3-0 against Germany.

France team photo

EN: The France team took the vice-champion cup for the main tournament / ES: El equipo de Francia llevó la copa de vicecampeón para el torneo principal

Korea team photo

EN: The Korean team won the Silver Tournament Cup / ES: El equipo de Corea se llevó el Torneo Copa Plata

Germany team photo

EN: The German team were runner-ups to the Silver Cup / ES: El equipo de Alemania fue vicecampeón de la Copa Plata

A tournament of values

The tournament was founded on the values of fraternity, comradery, teamwork and respect to diversity. To this end, the rules of the tournament ensured the participation of diplomats and members of over twenty embassies and international organizations represented in Paraguay.

The games were mixed men and women. Each game lasted twenty minutes each, with the field split in four smaller fields to allow simultaneous encounters.

All teams joined the tournament by paying a donation. The funds raised will be donated to a local organization that brings together football and development work.

Participant teams

  • Paraguay Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Embassy of France
  • Embassy of Korea
  • Embassy of Germany
  • Embassy of Argentina
  • Embassy of Brazil
  • Embassy of Chile
  • Embassy of Italy
  • Embassy of Japan
  • Embassy of Spain
  • Embassy of the United States
  • Embassy of Uruguay
  • World Bank
  • Andean Development Corporation (CAF)
  • Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
  • United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
  • Deustche Gessellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
  • United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  • Secretariat of the MERCOSUR Permanent Review Tribunal.
Published 21 November 2022