Paraguay star Enciso injured in World Cup warm-up

Flora Snelson - BBC Sport journalistSat, June 6, 2026 at 1:04 PM UTC

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Enciso joined Brighton in 2022 and moved to Strasbourg last year

Paraguay forward Julio Enciso's World Cup is in doubt after he was injured during a 4-0 friendly win over Nicaragua.

The 22-year-old former Brighton player was in tears as he was stretchered off the pitch in the 25th minute of the South American side's final warm-up game.

Paraguay's World Cup campaign begins on Saturday when they face hosts the USA in Los Angeles.

Manager Gustavo Alfaro wants Enciso to have the chance to play in Paraguay's first World Cup finals since 2010.

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"Hopefully it's nothing serious and just the result of an impact, and that we can keep him and get him back to full fitness," Alfaro said.

"He suffered a double injury: first to his side and then to his lower back, which affected his quadriceps.

"He got scared and he had to come off."

Enciso has been a regular starter throughout Paraguay's qualification campaign, scoring three goals and assisting two.

He contributed 12 goals during his first season at Strasbourg after joining the club from Brighton in September.

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