View source for Paraguayan Football Association

{{Short description|Governing body of association football in Paraguay}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{National football association 
| Logo               = Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol logo.svg
| Founded            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1906}} 
| FIFA affiliation   = 1925 
| Region             = [[CONMEBOL]] 
| Region affiliation = 1921 
|Location              = 1 Medallistas Olímpicos, [[Parque Olímpico, Paraguay|Parque Olímpico]], [[Luque]]
| President          = [[Robert Harrison (football executive)|Robert Harrison]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inside.fifa.com/about-fifa/president/news/paraguays-new-high-performance-academy-creates-pathway-for-young-talent |title=Paraguay's new high-performance academy creates "pathway" for young talent, says FIFA Presidentl |access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref> 
|General Secretary     = Luis Kanonnikoff
| Website            = {{URL|http://www.apf.org.py|apf.org.py}}
}}

The '''Paraguayan Football Association''' ({{langx|es|Asociación Paraguaya de Futbol}} {{IPA|es|asosjaˈsjom paɾaˈɣwaʝa ðe ˈfuðβol|}}; '''APF''') ([[Guarani language|Guarani]]: ''Paraguái Mangapy Atyguasu''), is the omnibus [[governing body]] of [[football (soccer)|football]] in [[Paraguay]].<ref name="Dunmore">{{cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Soccer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&pg=PA196 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield|Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Incorporated]], [[Scarecrow Press]] |pages=56. 191, 196 |first1=Tom |last1=Dunmore |author-link1=Tom Dunmore |isbn=9780810871885 |date=September 16, 2011 |language=English |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801233049/https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&pg=PA196 |url-status=live }}</ref> It organizes the [[Paraguayan football league system|Paraguayan football league]], including [[futsal]] and beach soccer, as well as and the [[Paraguay national football team]]. It is based in the city of [[Luque]], near the capital city, [[Asunción]]. Football is the most popular sport in Paraguay.<ref name="Dunmore"/>

== History ==
In the late 1890s [[William Paats]] brought soccer to Paraguay, when it was then played at an [[Asunción]] teacher's college. Escuela Normal de Maestros.<ref name="Dunmore"/><ref name=":2"/>

In 1906, five existing Paraguayan football teams (Olimpia, Guaraní, Libertad, General Díaz, and Nacional) created the governing body of football in Paraguay, the Paraguayan Football League.<ref name="Dunmore"/> In 1998 it adopted its current name.<ref name="Dunmore"/> On June 18, 1906,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Karel |first1=Stokkermans |title=Paraguay – League History 1906-1964 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/parahist.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313180201/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/parahist.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the representatives of the five existing football teams in Paraguay at that time ([[Club Olimpia|Olimpia]], [[Club Guaraní|Guaraní]], [[Club Libertad|Libertad]], [[Club General Díaz (Luque)|General Díaz]], and [[Club Nacional|Nacional]]) met to establish the Paraguayan Football League, named Liga Paraguaya de Football Association.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Suplemento 116 Años de la APF by Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol |url=https://issuu.com/apfoficial/docs/supleapf-1 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=issuu.com |language=es |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009030605/https://issuu.com/apfoficial/docs/supleapf-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first match was played on a Sunday, July 8, 1906.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-09 |title=Una historia de 114 años: El primer partido oficial del fútbol paraguayo |url=https://versus.lanacion.com.py/versus/2020/07/09/una-historia-de-114-anos-el-primer-partido-oficial-del-futbol-paraguayo/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Versus |language=es |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011144100/https://versus.lanacion.com.py/versus/2020/07/09/una-historia-de-114-anos-el-primer-partido-oficial-del-futbol-paraguayo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Adolfo Riquelme, who was a well known Paraguayan [[journalist]], was the organization's  first president.<ref name="Dunmore"/>

In 1921, during the presidency of Enrique Pinho, the Paraguayan Football League joined the [[CONMEBOL|South American Football Confederation]] (CONMEBOL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Un símbolo del fútbol paraguayo cumple cien años |url=https://onefootball.com/es/noticias/un-simbolo-del-futbol-paraguayo-cumple-cien-anos-17351647 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=OneFootball |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008185352/https://onefootball.com/es/noticias/un-simbolo-del-futbol-paraguayo-cumple-cien-anos-17351647 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1925 it became a member of [[FIFA]].<ref name="Dunmore"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Planet World Cup - Nations - Paraguay |url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/NATIONS/par.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=www.planetworldcup.com |archive-date=30 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060130012721/http://www.planetworldcup.com/NATIONS/par.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Rhett |date=2021-09-28 |title=Club Olimpia: Paraguay's Most Successful Soccer Club |url=https://historyofsoccer.info/club-olimpia |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=History Of Soccer |language=en-US |archive-date=15 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215074300/https://historyofsoccer.info/club-olimpia |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1941 it changed its name to Liga Paraguaya de Football and in 1957 the name was Hispanicized as Liga Paraguaya de Fútbol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aniversario de la APF |url=https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/aniversario-de-la-apf-1825082.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009050227/https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/aniversario-de-la-apf-1825082.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 3, 1998, its name was changed to its current denomination, Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol,<ref name="Dunmore"/><ref name=":1" /> which coincidentally is one of the names that had been adopted by a dissident football association that brought together some teams, which would later join the League, and which organized championships between 1911 and 1917.<ref name=":0" />

In 2016, APF appointed [[Robert Harrison (football executive)|Robert Harrison]], the former head of [[Club Nacional]], as president.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2016 |title=Robert Harrison, nuevo presidente del fútbol paraguayo |language=es |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/aaa90f883c6b4c85a81f7a67fa8e6332 |access-date=2022-10-30 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922122950/https://apnews.com/article/aaa90f883c6b4c85a81f7a67fa8e6332 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harrison succeeded [[Alejandro Domínguez (football executive)|Alejandro Domínguez]], who resigned to run for president of CONMEBOL, after [[Juan Ángel Napout]] stepped down from that role in December 2015.<ref name=":3" />

In 2019, APF hired Argentinian [[Eduardo Berizzo]] as manager of Paraguay's national men's team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2019 |title=Paraguay name Berizzo as national soccer team coach |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A574606726/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=f8b70a70 |access-date=2022-10-30 |via=[[Gale OneFile]] |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801233052/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&u=wikipedia&id=GALE{{!}}A574606726&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco&asid=f8b70a70 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Paraguay have not previously hosted the [[FIFA World Cup]].  In August 2022, APF joined up with the football associations of Argentina, Uruguay and Chile to [[Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid|jointly bid to host the World Cup in 2030]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine join Spain and Portugal's joint-bid to host the 2030 World Cup, but who else is in the running? |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12712762/ukraine-join-spain-and-portugals-joint-bid-to-host-the-2030-world-cup-but-who-else-is-in-the-running |website=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=30 October 2022 |archive-date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030060114/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12712762/ukraine-join-spain-and-portugals-joint-bid-to-host-the-2030-world-cup-but-who-else-is-in-the-running |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Together for the «South American dream» of the 2030 World Cup |url=https://www.conmebol.com/noticias/together-south-american-dream-2030-world-cup/ |website=[[Conmebol]] |access-date=30 October 2022 |archive-date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030060116/https://www.conmebol.com/noticias/together-south-american-dream-2030-world-cup/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Institutional Succession ==
From its foundation in 1906 until it adopted its final name in 1998, the APF followed the following institutional trajectory::
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
! bgcolor="#ddd" |Founded: 18 June 1906<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-30|date=2021-06-18|language=es|title=Celebran 115 años de fundación de la Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol|url=https://www.mayoria.com.py/2021/06/18/celebran-115-anos-de-fundacion-de-la-asociacion-paraguaya-de-futbol/|website=Mayoría|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630012652/https://www.mayoria.com.py/2021/06/18/celebran-115-anos-de-fundacion-de-la-asociacion-paraguaya-de-futbol/|url-status=dead}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|''Liga Paraguaya de Football Association (''LPFA)<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-30|language=es|title=El frenesí por el football se expandía - Deportes - ABC Color|url=https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/el-frenesi-por-el-football-se-expandia-114221.html|website=www.abc.com.py|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131154556/https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/el-frenesi-por-el-football-se-expandia-114221.html|url-status=live}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
!Affiliation to the [[Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol|Conmebol]]: 1921<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-30|language=es-ES|title=La Asociación celebra 110 años de pasión por el fútbol|url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/la-apf-celebra-110-anos-pasion-infinita-n2382753.html|website=d10.ultimahora.com|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922080622/https://d10.ultimahora.com/la-apf-celebra-110-anos-pasion-infinita-n2382753.html|url-status=dead}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|The Paraguayan Football League becomes a member of the South American Football Confederation, during the presidency of Enrique Pinho.
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
!Affiliation to [[FIFA]]: 1925
|-
|The LPF joins the Member Associations of the International Federation of Association Football.
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
!Change of name: 1941
|-
|Paraguayan Football League 
LPF
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
!Castellanisation: 1957
|-
|Paraguayan Football League
LPF
|}
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; margin: 10px auto; text-align: center; width: 65%;"
!Change of name: December 1998
|-
|Paraguayan Football Association
APF
|}

==Honours==

*[[Copa América]] champions {{mdash}} 1953, 1979<ref name="Dunmore"/>
*[[Olympic Games]] silver medal (Athens 2004)<ref name="Dunmore"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] 8 participations {{mdash}} 1930, 1950, 1958, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010<ref name="Dunmore"/>

The Paraguay national team appeared in the World Cup finals eight times, reaching the quarter-finals in the world FIFA event in South Africa (2010), losing to the eventual tournament victor, a Spanish team.<ref name="Dunmore"/>

The [[Club Olimpia]] has been indomitable: 38 Paraguayan championship titles; 3 in the [[Copa Libertadores]] {{mdash}} the continental [[South America]]n soccer tournament (1979, 1990, 2002); and [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental cup]].<ref name="Dunmore"/>

== Leadership and staff ==

=== Presidents ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historia de la APF |url=https://www.apf.org.py/p/historia-de-la-apf |website=Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol |language=es |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514235222/http://www.apf.org.py/p/historia-de-la-apf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Liga Paraguaya de Football Association ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Name!!  Period
|-
| Dr. Adolfo Riquelme|| 1906–1908 
|-
| Dr. [[Eusebio Ayala]] || 1908–1909
|-
| Don [[William Paats]] || 1909–1910  
|-
| Don Emilio Mantera || 1910–1910 
|-
| Don Junio Quinto Godoi || 1910–1911 
|-
| Don Alejandro Gatti || 1911–1913
|-
| Dr. Enrique L. Pinho || 1913–1923
|-
| Dr. Juan Manuel Álvarez || 1923–1924
|-
| Dr. Esteban Semidei || 1924–1926 
|-
| Prof. Dr. [[Adriano Irala]] || 1926–1928 
|-
| Don Manuel Bedoya || 1928–1931 
|-
| Don Juan Pablo Gorostiaga || 1931–1932     
|-
| Dr. Ignacio L. Parra || 1932–1932  
|-
| Dr. Francisco Esculies || 1935–1936
|-
| Don Ramón T. Cartes || 1936–1937     
|-
| Don Manuel Galiano || 1937–1938     
|-
| Dr. Juan Arturo Lavigne || 1939–1940 
|-
| Cnel. Sampson Harrison || 1940–1940 
|-
|}

==== Liga Paraguaya de Football ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Name!!  Period
|-
| Dr. Manuel Bedoya || 1941–1941 
|-
| Dr. Julio César Airaldi || 1942–1944     
|-
| Dr. Crispín Insaurralde || 1944–1945
|- 
| Don [[Fulgencio R. Moreno]] || 1945–1946     
|-
| Don Oscar Pinho Insfrán || 1946–1947   
|-
| Dr. Lorenzo N. Livieres || 1947–1948     
|-
| Clte. Ramón Martino|| 1948–1948  
|-
| Dr. Blas A. Dos Santos  || 1948–1950
|-
| Don Lidio Quevedo || 1950–1951
|-
| Dr. Blas A. Dos Santos  || 1951–1952
|-
| Dr. Alfonso Capurro || 1952–1954
|-
| Don Lidio Quevedo || 1954–1955
|-
| Dr. Raimundo Paniagua || 1955–1956
|-
| Dr. Alfonso Capurro || 1956–1957
|-
|}

==== Liga Paraguaya de Fútbol ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Name!!  Period
|-
| Dr. Pedro Recalde || 1957–1957
|-
| Dr. Ernesto Gavilán || 1958–1959
|-
| Dr. Hassel Aguilar Sosa || 1959–1960
|-
| Dr. Tulio Manuel Quiroz || 1960–1961
|-
| Dr. Manuel Duarte Pallarés || 1961–1963
|-
| Dr. Anastacio Mendoza Sánchez || 1963–1965
|-
| Dr. Jerónimo Angulo Gastón || 1965–1967
|-
| Cnel. Raúl Fernández || 1967–1968
|-
| Don Juan Antonio Sosa Gautier || 1969–1970
|-
| Dr. [[Nicolás Leoz]] || 1971–1972
|-
| Don Humberto Domínguez Dibb || 1973–1976
|-
| Don Oscar Barchini || 1977–1979
|-
| Dr. [[Nicolás Leoz]] || 1979–1984
|-
| Don Jesús Manuel Pallarés || 1985–1994
|-
| Esc. Oscar J. Harrison || 1994–1998
|-
|}

==== Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Name!!  Period
|-
| Esc. Oscar J. Harrison || 1998–2007
|-
| Lic. [[Juan Ángel Napout]] || 2007–2014
|-
| Lic. [[Alejandro Domínguez (football executive)|Alejandro Domínguez]]|| 2014–2016
|-
| Lic. Ramón González Daher || 2016
|-
| Lic. [[Robert Harrison (football executive)|Robert Harrison]] || 2016–Present
|-
|}

===Association staff (2022)===

{| class="wikitable"
!Name<ref>https://inside.fifa.com/en/associations/PAR/organisation</ref>
!Position
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Robert Harrison (football executive)|Robert Harrison]]
|President
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Carlos Sosa
|Vice President
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Javier Díaz de Vivar
|2nd Vice President
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Luis Kanonnikoff
|General Secretary
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Hugo Kuroki
|Treasurer
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Douglas Martínez 
|Technical Director
|-
|{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Gustavo Alfaro]]
|Team Coach (Men's)
|-
|{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Carlos Bona]]
|Team Coach (Women's)
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Fernando Ortiz
|Media/Communications Manager
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Jose Luis Alder
|Futsal Coordinator
|-
|{{flagicon|Paraguay}} Cynthia Franco
{{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Eber Aquino]]
|Referee Coordinator
|}

== Paraguayan football league system ==
{{Main|Paraguayan football league system}}
The football in Paraguay has four levels in men's tournaments (five in the interior of the country) and one division in women's tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=Se pone en marcha el Torneo Anual de la categoría femenina |url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/se-pone-en-marcha-el-torneo-anual-de-la-categoria-femenina |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=D10 |language=es}}</ref> The Paraguayan Football Association with an affiliated association called the [[Unión del Fútbol del Interior|Interior Football Union]] (UFI) –which consists of 17 federations, one for each department of the country, excluding the city of [[Asunción]]-, organizes the different championships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Béstard |first=Miguel Ángel |title=80 años de Fútbol en Paraguay |url=http://www.portalguarani.com/1925_miguel_angel_bestard/14204_80_anos_de_futbol_en_el_paraguay__1900_a_1980_miguel_angel_bestard_.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Portal Guarani |language=es |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009050229/http://www.portalguarani.com/1925_miguel_angel_bestard/14204_80_anos_de_futbol_en_el_paraguay__1900_a_1980_miguel_angel_bestard_.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most popular football teams in Paraguay are [[Club Olimpia|Olimpia]],<ref name=":2" /> [[Cerro Porteño]], [[Club Guaraní|Guaraní]], [[Club Libertad|Libertad]] and [[Club Nacional|Nacional]]. All of them are from Asunción.<ref>{{Cite web |title=¿Es Olimpia el club con más hinchas de Paraguay? |url=https://www.goal.com/es-co/noticias/un-encuestador-asegura-que-olimpia-es-el-club-con-mas-hinchas-en-/12jh2d6fmmlt1gs99s2r3n94u |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Goal.com |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008191558/https://www.goal.com/es-co/noticias/un-encuestador-asegura-que-olimpia-es-el-club-con-mas-hinchas-en-/12jh2d6fmmlt1gs99s2r3n94u |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
The [[Supercopa Paraguay]] is a national cup played since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-15 |title=Se viene la Supercopa del fútbol paraguayo |url=https://www.hoy.com.py/deportes/se-viene-la-supercopa-del-futbol-paraguayo |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Diario HOY |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008185204/https://www.hoy.com.py/deportes/se-viene-la-supercopa-del-futbol-paraguayo |url-status=live }}</ref> It is single match, on a neutral field that faces the champion of Primera División and the champion of [[Copa Paraguay]], a competition created in 2018 with teams of all categories, including the federations that belong to UFI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Copa Paraguay ya tiene formato |url=https://www.extra.com.py/deportes/la-copa-paraguay-ya-tiene-formato-n1575950.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=extra.com.py |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008211153/https://www.extra.com.py/deportes/la-copa-paraguay-ya-tiene-formato-n1575950.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
There is also a category for the reserve of the football teams called Categoría Reserva<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cambio de timón en la cima de Reserva |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2022/08/10/cambio-de-timon-en-la-cima-de-reserva/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205015011/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2022/08/10/cambio-de-timon-en-la-cima-de-reserva/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and then the formative divisions from 14 to 19 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vuelven las Divisiones Formativas |url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/divisiones-formativas-vuelta-asegurada-n2940364.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=d10.ultimahora.com |language=es |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009030606/https://d10.ultimahora.com/divisiones-formativas-vuelta-asegurada-n2940364.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The women's division also has a U-18 category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cerro y Sol, líderes en la Sub 18 de Femenino |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2022/04/25/cerro-y-sol-lideres-en-la-sub-18-de-femenino/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011142746/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2022/04/25/cerro-y-sol-lideres-en-la-sub-18-de-femenino/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2024 there are four women's tournaments: the one division league –called Campeonato Anual FEM–, Copa EFE, Copa Paraguay FEM and Supercopa FEM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premio en efectivo y nuevos torneos |url=https://www.lanacion.com.py/futboledicion-impresa/2024/03/09/premio-en-efectivo-y-nuevos-torneos/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.lanacion.com.py |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=La APF presenta el innovador calendario del fútbol femenino |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2024/03/08/apf-presenta-el-innovador-calendario-del-futbol-femenino/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.abc.com.py |language=es}}</ref>

Regarding [[futsal]], it is organized in four categories: a premium league, the Honor Category,  Primera and Intermedia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cerro Porteño y Olimpia, la definición de la Liga Premium |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/superclasico/2022/08/13/cerro-porteno-y-olimpia-definen-la-liga-premium-de-futsal-fifa/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008161956/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/superclasico/2022/08/13/cerro-porteno-y-olimpia-definen-la-liga-premium-de-futsal-fifa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=En marcha el torneo de Honor de futsal |url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/futsal-marcha-el-torneo-honor-n3005527.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=d10.ultimahora.com |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008163355/https://d10.ultimahora.com/futsal-marcha-el-torneo-honor-n3005527.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There is also a category for women.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Fútbol Femenino en Paraguay: avanza el Torneo Apertura con ejes en la profesionalización y la igualdad de derechos |url=https://www.neahoy.com/2022/05/10/futbol-femenino-en-paraguay-avanza-el-torneo-apertura-con-ejes-en-la-profesionalizacion-y-la-igualdad-de-derechos/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=NEA HOY |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008154613/https://www.neahoy.com/2022/05/10/futbol-femenino-en-paraguay-avanza-el-torneo-apertura-con-ejes-en-la-profesionalizacion-y-la-igualdad-de-derechos/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The APF also organizes two [[beach soccer]] championships, the Tournament of Stars<ref>{{Cite web |title=Torneo de las Estrellas de Fútbol Playa |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2021/03/19/torneo-de-las-estrellas-de-futbol-playa/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008215722/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2021/03/19/torneo-de-las-estrellas-de-futbol-playa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Women's Beach Soccer Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Areguá, campeón femenino en fútbol playa |url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/aregua-campeon-femenino-en-futbol-playa-1220635.html |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Color |language=es |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011192021/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/aregua-campeon-femenino-en-futbol-playa-1220635.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Controversy==
The freedom of players to be contractually released and transfer between clubs and negotiate contracts (commonly called a "[[buyout clause]]") has been controversial, and subject to both scholarly inquiry and legal proceedings.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/mljilt32&div=8&id=&page= |volume=32 |journal=Md. J. Int'l L. |page=134 |year=2017 |title=How FIFA Used the Principle of Autonomy of Sport to Shield Corruption in the Sepp Blatter Era |first1=J. Gordon |last1=Hylton |quote=Of course, unlike the case in Greece earlier ... [in 2016 - 2017], FIFA had not threatened to suspend the Paraguayan Football Association ... |accessdate=October 31, 2022 |via=[[heinonline.org]] |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031130852/https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/mljilt32&div=8&id=&page= |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=1 J. For Sports L. Pol'y & Governance |volume=12 |year=2018–2019 |title=Article 19 RSTP, a Right Step in the Transfer Policy Jurisprudence |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jslpg1&div=6&id=&page= |accessdate=October 31, 2022 |via=[[heinonline.org]] |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031130852/https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jslpg1&div=6&id=&page= |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7784960 |title=El "Caso Pitta" y la (in)ejecutabilidad automática de las "cláusulas de rescisión" en el fútbol paraguayo |first1=Miguel |last1=Antonio |first2=Laterza |last2=Zunini |quote=With the current regulations of the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) it is impossible the automatic execution of the compensatory clauses due to anticipated contractual breakdown (buy-out clauses), because with the simple opposition of the employer club, the exit operation of a player it is extended in time and is subject to the decision of a judge outside the parties. Therefore, this work will attempt to demonstrate the imperative need to have aspecific federative regulation to implement a summary administrative procedure to materialize the automatic release of players who are in a position to execute clauses of this type. |language=Spanish |accessdate=October 31, 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031131921/https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7784960 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315695709-16/7-impunity-corruption-south-american-football-governance-juca-kfouri-folha-de-s%C3%A3o-paulo |chapter=7: Impunity and corruption in South American football governance |first1=Juca |last1=Kfouri |author-link1=Juca Kfouri |first2=Folha |last2=de São Paulo |title=Global Corruption |edition=1st, Imprint |year=2016 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |doi=10.4324/9781315695709-16 |format=eBook |isbn=9781315695709 |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031130853/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315695709-16/7-impunity-corruption-south-american-football-governance-juca-kfouri-folha-de-s%C3%A3o-paulo |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[2022 Copa Paraguay]]
*[[Copa Paraguay]]
*[[Paraguayan Primera División]]
*[[Paraguay national football team]]
*[[Football in Paraguay]]
*[[Paraguayan Footballer of the Year]]
*[[Paraguay women's national football team]]
*[[Paraguayan Tercera División]]
*[[Sport in Paraguay]]
*[[Estadio Defensores del Chaco]]
*[[2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup]]
*[[Juan Ángel Napout]]
*[[Juan Escobar (Paraguayan footballer)]]
*[[Paraguay women's national under-20 football team]]
*[[Robert Harrison (football executive)|Robert Harrison]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |title= Voices From the Field: Q&A With Coach Developers Around the World |journal=International Sport Coaching Journal |first1=Bettina |last1=Callary |first2=Brian |last2=Gearity |year=2019 |doi=10.1123/iscj.2019-0070 |volume=6 |number=3 |pages=366–369|s2cid=204633721 }}
*{{cite book |title=Golazo!: The Beautiful Game from the Aztecs to the World Cup: The Complete History of How Soccer Shaped Latin America
|first1=Andreas |last1=Campomar |date=May 2014 |publisher=[[Penguin books]] |type=E-book}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website|http://www.apf.org.py}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070602203313/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=par/index.html Paraguay] – FIFA profile (archived 2 June 2007)

{{Sports governing bodies in Paraguay}}
{{Football in Paraguay}}
{{South American Football}}
{{International Football}}
{{National Members of the South American Football Confederation}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National members of CONMEBOL|Paraguay]]
[[Category:Football in Paraguay]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in Paraguay]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Paraguay]]
[[Category:Association football governing bodies in South America]]