Palmeiras midfielder Mauricio scored an assist in Paraguay's win over Nicaragua, ending his drought. The match took place at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción. Mauricio, a Palmeiras player, made his first direct goal for the Paraguayan national team in the last friendly match before the 2026 World Cup. He assisted Maidana's fourth goal for Paraguay. The decisive pass broke Mauricio's personal drought, which had lasted almost three months - his last assist had been recorded on March 15, in Palmeiras' win over Mirassol in the sixth round of the Brasileirão. Mauricio's opportunity to shine came unexpectedly. The Palmeiras player, who started the match on the bench, was called on at 25 minutes of the first half to replace Enciso. The player felt a left thigh injury and left the field crying, becoming a major concern for the Paraguayan coaching staff ahead of the World Cup. Mauricio had recently become a naturalized citizen of Paraguay and made his debut for the national team on March 15. He played 29 minutes in Paraguay's win over Greece and 34 minutes in their loss to Morocco. Now, the Paraguayan team's attention is fully focused on the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Paraguay will make their World Cup debut on June 12, facing the host team, the United States. In the first round, they will face Turkey (20/6) and conclude their group stage against Australia (25/6).