AGP Executive Report

Paraguay Football: Gustavo Alfaro’s contract has been extended with the Albirroja until the end of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, keeping the “Hunter of Utopias” in charge through Copa América and Paraguay’s centenary World Cup opener. World Cup Buzz: Morocco’s PM Aziz Akhannouch publicly rebuked federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa over claims that Casablanca’s Benslimane will host the 2030 final, while FIFA says the venue is still undecided. Music & Theatre: “REINA: A New Musical” is set for Sept. 26 at Paramount Center for the Arts, spotlighting Eliza Alicia Lynch and Paraguay’s 19th-century history through music, dance, and a free ticketed workshop preview. Culture & Money: Paraguay’s Central Bank will unveil redesigned guaraní banknotes on Oct. 5, shifting imagery toward Guaraní culture and regional flora and fauna. Sports Spotlight: Team Paraguay’s 341-athlete squad was officially flagged for the Sept. 12–26 South American Games in Santa Fe. City Life: Asunción marks World Car-Free Day on Sept. 20 with a 17-kilometre cycling ride starting at the Botanical Garden and Zoo.

Paraguayan Arts Spotlight: Asunción’s BGN/Arte gallery opened “Travesías,” a major exhibition by painter Sebastián Boesmi, running through October and spanning works made from 2001 to 2026. Music & Community: A faculty recital and art display is set for Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium, featuring Paraguayan composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré’s “La Catedral” and projected artwork during performances. Local Sports Moment: Paraguay’s Michelle Sharon Valiente Amarilla and Giuliana Poletti Corrales won silver at the CSV South America Beach Volleyball Championships in João Pessoa, with Paraguay also taking bronze in the women’s event. Global Football Buzz: FIFA says the 2030 World Cup final venue is still undecided after Morocco’s federation claimed Casablanca’s Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane. Tech & Media: Meta is expanding Community Notes testing to multiple Latin American countries, including Paraguay, with contributors able to add context during the pilot.

Asunción Art Scene: Sebastián Boesmi’s 25-year painting journey lands in Asunción with “Travesías” at BGN/Arte, running through October and spanning works from 2001–2026, mixing materials, scales, and even collaborative processes to rethink what painting can be. Paraguay Music & Performance: A faculty showcase at Barton’s Fine and Performing Arts in the U.S. highlights Paraguayan guitarist Agustín Barrios Mangoré’s “La Catedral,” bringing the composer’s melancholy-to-technical arc back to life in a live recital. Digital Culture & Media: Meta is expanding Community Notes testing across Latin America, including Paraguay, letting local contributors sign up for crowdsourced context while the company says third-party fact-checking won’t change during the pilot. Sports Spotlight: Beach volleyball’s CSV South America Championships in Brazil saw Paraguay’s Michelle Sharon Valiente Amarilla & Giuliana Poletti Corrales take silver, with the women’s podium also featuring a bronze for Paraguay’s Fiorella Nunez Quintana & Denisse Alvarez. Global Football Buzz: FIFA’s 2030 World Cup final is being claimed for Casablanca’s Hassan II stadium area, with Morocco’s federation president saying Benslimane will host—though FIFA says the decision comes later.

Community Notes in Paraguay: Meta has started testing its crowdsourced Community Notes in 16 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, including Paraguay, with sign-ups open to local contributors but no public notes during the pilot—while fact-checking groups warn it could replace independent verification. World Cup 2030 Venue Talk: Morocco’s football federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa says the 2030 final will be played in Casablanca’s Benslimane province at the Hassan II stadium, though FIFA says the decision will come “in due course,” with Spain also pushing its bid. Rally Chile Tech Update: WRC Rally Chile gets extra tyre allocation for Rally1 crews—boosting from 28 to 36 tyres—to cut repeat puncture and delamination issues seen at Rally Paraguay. Youth Football Spotlight: UTSA Park West in San Antonio hosts the Dreams Future Cup 2026 (Nov 27–29), featuring top academies including Paraguay’s Cerro Porteño, with the winner earning a trip to the Ajax Future Cup in Amsterdam. Beach Volleyball Podiums: Paraguay’s Michelle Valiente Amarilla & Giuliana Poletti Corrales won silver at the CSV South America Beach Volleyball Championships in João Pessoa.

Paraguayan Arts Spotlight: Costume designer Luján Riquelme has joined Cirque du Soleil’s touring Alegría, bringing her Paraguayan roots to the global stage as the show heads through South America. Digital Culture & Media: Meta has started testing Community Notes in 16 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, including Paraguay, as it moves toward replacing professional fact-checking with a crowdsourced model. Sports—Rally Buzz: Hyundai says Rally Chile could be a strong shot for Adrien Fourmaux’s first WRC win after his Paraguay drive, while the FIA increased tyre allocations for Rally1 crews to reduce puncture problems. Local Sports & Youth: Two Team USA futsal players from Turlock are competing in Paraguay at the AMF U15 World Cup, highlighting the country as a hub for youth sport. Paraguay Public Health Pressure: Doctors and teachers have announced September strikes, with doctors planning walkouts amid pay and medicine shortages.

Paraguayan Arts & Culture: Costume designer Luján Riquelme is bringing Paraguayan flair to Cirque du Soleil’s touring Alegría, joining the global production team while keeping close ties to her folklore roots. Music & Community: The Asunción Municipal Chamber Orchestra returns with a free youth-focused concert, “By and for the Youth,” featuring emerging soloists and a mix of classical and national works at the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theatre. Sports Spotlight: Paraguay’s Olympic Committee named Sofia Garcia and Julio Mirena as flag bearers for the 13th South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina. Public Health & Labor: Doctors and teachers in Paraguay are ramping up pressure with separate September strikes over pay and budget demands, as negotiations and staffing concerns continue to heat up. Tech & Agriculture: Paraguay is pushing ahead with an AI-led project for autonomous aerial spraying, aiming to boost efficiency for crop work and position the country as a regional pioneer. Media & Platforms: Meta has started testing Community Notes across Spanish-speaking Latin America, including Paraguay, as it looks to replace its professional fact-checking model.

Meta’s Latin America pivot: Meta has started testing Community Notes in 16 Spanish-speaking countries, including Paraguay, as it looks to replace its professional fact-checking program with crowd-sourced context. Paraguay arts on tour: Costume designer Luján Riquelme has joined Cirque du Soleil’s Alegría global run, bringing Paraguayan folklore and her circus-and-stage background to the production. Music in Asunción: The Asunción Municipal Chamber Orchestra kicks off a free “By and for the Youth” concert at the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theatre, featuring emerging soloists and a mix of classical and national works. Sports spotlight: Paraguay’s Olympic Committee named golfer Sofia Garcia and speed skater Julio Mirena as flag bearers for the South American Games in Santa Fe. Health & culture at home: Paraguay’s doctors’ union says it was excluded from health talks amid a 446-doctor resignation wave and a strike over pay, shortages, and job insecurity.

Paraguay Arts & Music: Asunción Municipal Chamber Orchestra kicks off its “By and for the Youth” season with a free Sept. 9 concert at the “Ignacio A. Pane” Municipal Theatre, featuring emerging soloists and choirs plus a mix of classical and Paraguayan works. Local Culture in Motion: Asunción Symphony Orchestra brings “Sinfonía Divertida en los Barrios de Asunción” to Santísima Trinidad on Sept. 8 with a free, family-friendly program including Haydn’s “Toy Symphony.” Sports Spotlight: COP names golfer Sofia Garcia and speed skater Julio Mirena as Paraguay’s flag bearers for the 13th South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina (Sept. 12–26). Tech & Innovation: A new AI-led autonomous aerial spraying project aims to build unmanned ultralight aircraft for crop spraying, with university collaboration at UNA. International Arts Buzz: World-class pianist Victor Asuncion headlines a free Sept. 15 concert at the Broadway Theater via the Piatigorsky Foundation Tour. Global Entertainment Tech: At Rock in Rio, Coca-Cola, KitKat and Trident are turning freebies into digital experiences with QR codes and WhatsApp bots.

AI in Agriculture: Paraguay is pushing autonomous aerial spraying with a new AI initiative from Agro IA and UNA aeronautics students, aiming for unmanned ultralight aircraft that can cover up to 1,000 hectares a day. Music & Community: Asunción’s Municipal Chamber Orchestra hosts a free youth-focused concert, “By and for the Youth,” on Sept. 9 at the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theatre, featuring emerging soloists and choirs. Tech & Education: The third Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum lands in Asunción Sept. 11–12, with free in-person sessions on AI and innovation across sectors like smart agriculture and digital health. Sports Spotlight: Paraguayan driver Joshua Dürksen makes history at Monza with a double Formula 2 win (Sprint + Feature Race). Film & Policy Talk: Creators of the award-winning film “2 Valid IDs” say the story is meant to be a “wake-up call” to lawmakers. Pageantry Buzz: Miss World Paraguay Ayelén Pérez’s viral thumbs-down gesture sparks controversy, with her saying it was aimed at the organization.

Miss Universe 2026: Puerto Rico is gearing up for the Nov. 24 finale at the Coliseo de San Juan, with Latin America’s contestants already locking in national picks—Paraguay included. Music in Asunción: The Asunción City Symphony Orchestra (OSCA) brings a free “Sinfonía Divertida en los Barrios” concert to Santísima Trinidad on Sept. 8, with Paraguayan works and a family-friendly “Toy Symphony” audience moment. Tech & AI: The third Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum lands Sept. 11–12 at the Central Bank convention center, focusing on AI across sectors like health, agriculture, cybersecurity, and digital government. Culture on the streets: Calle Cultura 2026 turned Juan de Salazar Street into an open-air arts hub with workshops, games, and performances for families. Paraguay in sport: Paraguayan driver Joshua Dürksen made F2 history at Monza with a double win, while ultrarunner Ivo Kunzle became the first Paraguayan to finish Colorado’s Leadville Trail 100 Run. Indigenous rights: Indigenous women in Paraguay are pushing for official recognition of traditional midwives amid calls to address discrimination and lack of services.

Customs Crackdown: Operation COLIBRI ZAFIRO wrapped up after 16 days of coordinated general aviation checks across 19 countries, netting 15 seizures (about 1.2 tonnes of narcotics) and uncovering 86 clandestine airstrips, plus cases involving undeclared works of art and aircraft abusing temporary admission. Music in Asunción: The Asunción City Symphony Orchestra (OSCA) brings “Sinfonía Divertida en los Barrios” to Santísima Trinidad with a free 20:00 concert on Sept. 8, featuring Paraguayan works and a family-friendly “Toy Symphony” interactive segment. Tech & AI Forum: The third Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum lands Sept. 11–12 at the Central Bank convention center, with free registration and panels on AI across sectors like energy, digital health, smart agriculture, cybersecurity, and digital government. Birds of Paraguay: A new Chaco spotlight profiles the Black-bodied Woodpecker and its resonant drumming, framed as vital communication for mates and territory. Rally Paraguay / WRC: WRC Promoter GmbH is under new ownership, and CEO Eric Boullier says the push is for better fan access, stronger media coverage, and more engaging event formats. Sports Spotlight: Paraguayan F2 driver Joshua Dürksen made history at Monza with a double win (Sprint and Feature Race) for Invicta Racing. Culture Calendar: Calle Cultura 2026 turned an Asunción street into an open-air arts hub with workshops, games, and family activities, while La Semana del Super8 runs Sept. 15–24 with free online lectures on analogue filmmaking.

Formula 2 Spotlight: Paraguayan Joshua Dürksen made history at Monza, sweeping the weekend with a Sprint win and a Feature Race victory for Invicta Racing—then his car caught fire right after the finish. Local Sports Pride: Ivo Kunzle Savastano became the first Paraguayan on record to complete the Leadville Trail 100 Run in Colorado, finishing in 29:22:00 while raising funds for people with intellectual disabilities. Asunción Street Culture: Calle Cultura 2026 turned Juan de Salazar Street into a free, family-friendly arts hub with workshops, games, recycling activities, and live music. Analogue Film for Paraguay: La Semana del Super8 runs Sept. 15–24 with free online lectures on Super 8 analogue filmmaking, leading into an in-person creative residency. Beauty Pageant Buzz: Miss World Paraguay Ayelén Pérez’s viral “thumbs-down” gesture sparked controversy—she says it was aimed at the Miss World Organization, not the winner. Indigenous Rights: Indigenous women in Paraguay renewed calls for official recognition of traditional midwives amid discrimination and lack of public health access. Art Exhibition: Darío Cardona opened “Corpus Expositivo” in Asunción, exploring transformation through photography, skin, leather, and chemical processes.

Calle Cultura 2026 (Asunción): Juan de Salazar Street turned into an open-air arts hub on Sept. 5, with free workshops, games, recycling activities, screen printing and live music drawing families despite cloudy skies. Analogue Film in Paraguay: La Semana del Super8 runs Sept. 15–24, offering free online lectures with international filmmakers and researchers, feeding into a later in-person Super 8 residency. Art in Asunción: Photographer Darío Cardona opened “Corpus Expositivo” at Manzana de la Rivera, using three linked series to explore transformation through photography, skin and chemical processes, with the show continuing through September. Miss World Buzz: Miss World Paraguay Ayelén Pérez’s viral “thumbs down” gesture during the Sept. 5 ceremony sparked controversy, but she says it was aimed at the Miss World Organization before the winner was announced. Indigenous Rights: Indigenous women in Paraguay renewed calls for official recognition of traditional midwives, citing discrimination and lack of public health services. Sports Spotlight: Paraguayan ultrarunner Ivo Kunzle became the first Paraguayan on record to finish Colorado’s Leadville Trail 100 Run in 29:22:00.

MLS Summer Window: Inter Miami has signed Paraguay midfielder Matías Galarza on a four-month loan from River Plate with a purchase option, adding more homegrown flair to Miami’s push. Paraguay Sports Spotlight: In FIA Formula 2 at Monza, Paraguayan driver Joshua Duerksen won the Sprint Race from seventh after late Safety Car drama, taking third in the title fight. Arts & Culture (Asunción): Photographer Darío Cardona opened “Corpus Expositivo” at Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera, using three linked series to explore transformation through photography, skin, leather and chemical processes. Community & Heritage: Indigenous women in Paraguay are calling for official recognition of traditional midwives, arguing their ancestral knowledge is vital where public health access is limited. Local Events: Calle Cultura 2026 returns to Asunción’s Juan de Salazar Street with workshops, performances and food for about 5,000 visitors. Business & Tech: Paraguay will host the 16th Customer Experience and Innovation Congress on Sept. 7–8 in Asunción, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation.

Art & Culture in Asunción: Photographer Darío Cardona opened “Corpus Expositivo” at Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera, with three linked series exploring transformation through photography, skin/leather and chemical processes, running through September 2026. Street-Level Arts: Calle Cultura 2026 returns to Juan de Salazar Street on Sept. 5 (16:00–20:00), turning the neighborhood into an open-air hub for workshops, performances, food and games for all ages. Church & Community: Bishop Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala was appointed auxiliary bishop of Asunción, bringing years of Chaco pastoral work into the archdiocese’s leadership. Business & Innovation: Paraguay will host the 16th Customer Experience and Innovation Congress on Sept. 7–8 at Paseo La Galería Events Centre, with talks on AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation. Sports (Paraguay tie-in): Inter Miami signed Paraguay midfielder Matías Galarza on loan from River Plate, adding more buzz around the club’s Messi-era lineup.

Paraguayan Football in the Spotlight: Inter Miami has signed Paraguay midfielder Matías Galarza on a loan from River Plate, adding another South American link to Lionel Messi’s MLS orbit. Local Arts & Community: Calle Cultura 2026 returns to Asunción on Sept. 5, turning Juan de Salazar Street into a free open-air mix of workshops, performances, food, and games for all ages. Business & Tech for Creatives: Paraguay will host the 16th Customer Experience and Innovation Congress on Sept. 7–8 at Paseo La Galería, with sessions on AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and leadership. Sports, With a Paraguay Connection: Gael Monfils’ US Open farewell made headlines after his straight-sets loss to Learner Tien, while the wider week also included Paraguay-linked football chatter and player moves across leagues. Entertainment Buzz: Yeng Constantino addressed renewed “almost romance” talk with Ryan Bang, saying her husband Victor doesn’t get jealous and that Ryan “deserves to be loved, to be seen.”