Asuncion (Paraguay), Jun 17 (IANS): Paraguay head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto has said that he is confident his team will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Albirroja have not featured in football's showpiece tournament since 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals in South Africa.

Schelotto said some pundits were already dismissing his team's chances of securing a berth at the next edition in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

"Let people write us off but I have no doubt that we'll go to the World Cup," the 50-year-old Argentine told reporters ahead of his side's home friendly against Nicaragua on Sunday.

Paraguay finished eighth in the 10-team South American zone qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, winning just three of their 18 matches, Xinhua reported.

But he said his players would be better prepared for the next qualifying campaign, which begins in September

"We've grown as a group and we're able to better relate with each other," Schelotto said.

"We have some top players but we don't want to depend on any individuals. Playing well as a team is the most important thing if you want to play in a World Cup," he added.