The stadium is packed, between the flash of fireworks and the fervent encouragement of the fans, the match is going to start. But when France’s draw is announced, a surprise arises: Instead of Mbappeenter Marie Curietwo-time Nobel winner. On this hypothesis it was based Alejandra GalarzaChemistry teacher, to use the figurines of the 2026 World Cup in class.
The World Cup started yesterday in Mexico, USA and Canada. This Friday, at 22:00, play our dear Albirroja against one of the hosts, USA.
However, the passion for this sporting event began months before, at the end of April, with the release of the official Panini figurine album. Millions of girls, boys and young people around the world form hours in linethey search each kiosk and, of course, exchange these cards to complete their sheets.
Professor Alejandra teaches Chemistry at the intermediate level of a private school of Assumption. “In the last few weeks it was like a fever, since the World Cup album came out all the students were focused on that topic alone. Once they formed lines for hours to get to the Panini checkout. So I took advantage of this fever to design a strategy in the classroom,” he says.
How to use World Cup figurines to teach?
Alejandra Galarza explains that they have just taken the first stage tests, so a period opens where they can be more relaxed and take advantage of the soccer World Cup to “bring into play” what was learned.
He organized the boys into groups of 5 and gave each group an album that he adapted for the subject of Chemistry, with an emphasis on Organic Chemistry in the third year. “The idea is to put together molecular structures or organic molecules in each group. They have to develop spheres, each one with different colors that represent a different atom, important in the periodic table”, he adds.
As the young people assemble these structures well, the teacher allows them to choose a figurine at the same time. random. Each sheet has, instead of a footballer, an important person in the history of Chemistry, with a brief description of their studies or discoveries.
“They reacted pretty well so far, the chemistry is very abstract Generally and sometimes it is difficult to get to the laboratory due to the number of students. So making a game like that, with molecular structures… With this I saw that they learned what we developed, I saw them competing, being interested in the subject,” he says.
Las Teresas School: “every event is an opportunity to educate”
At the Santa Teresa de Jesús private school, or “The Teresas” as is better known in the capital, they also observed how the students were excited and excited about the World Cup and, above all, with the exchange of figurines.
“We spoke among a group of teachers and we began to think about how we can generate in them, precisely, that emotion and that passion because of what the sport is, because of the place it has today Paraguay. From there came the agreement to have a special recess on Fridays,” he says. Norma Machucadirector of the third cycle and intermediate level.
Starting on June 5 and for the duration of the World Cup, they are allowed to wear Albirroja shirts as uniform on Fridays. During recess, the exchange of figurines is encouraged, not only between students but also between teachers, and teachers and students.
“Every event is an opportunity to educate“, Machuca points out and emphasizes that although the exchange is not a classroom moment, it is just as educational because connection, rapprochement is generated and the students talk about the sport, their countries and of course, the players.
In what subjects can the World Cup album be used?
The director Norma Machuca assures that in History, they can work with various topics, such as creating a timeline, studying the links between countriesand more, in this context where there are entire countries that are in war.
“We can see what it means from the ethicsalso develop the critical thinking problem solving or teamwork,” he says.
In MathFor example, there is the possibility of working with position tables, statistics, percentages and probabilities, the educator reflects. To this we must add the experience of teacher Galarza and the Chemistry classes.
Furthermore, the teaching staff of this educational center allege that it serves to instill the patriotismin national celebrations.
A History teacher’s advice for taking advantage of figurines in class
The teacher Sofia Molinas He is a teacher at United Nations National College (CNNU)located in Barrio Obrero. It indicates that the album of figurines and the World Cup itself serve to learn about the countries, their geographical location, the culturehe language and the flags.
In the first middle level course, you can analyze the origin of the sports competitions in Greece; In the second course, the topic: What happened to the World Cups in periods of great international crises?
Read more: Fury over World Cup figurines: children from Asunción took over a square for exchanges
“To build identity At a local level, I would start by knowing with the students the towns where the players come from, the social problemswhether rural or urban,” he says.
However, the teacher insists that all this is achieved only with the guide from the teachers, otherwise only some students would be interested in learning. “Another point is that the albums are in English, something that teachers They can work with their courses,” he suggests.
The arguments of schools that banned the figurines
At the end of May, the Lumen private schoolfrom the Trinidad neighborhood, prohibited students from bringing the World Cup stickers or album to the institution. The main argument of the managers is that they became a distractor element in the classrooms, hindering the normal development of academic activities.
The student center issued a statement in which they criticized the decision and described it as “extreme” since the restriction was total and does not only cover the classes.
This Wednesday, the private school Alpha College -belonging to the American University -, prohibited the use of the Albirroja shirt during the days of the sporting event, including the dates on which the team will play. Paraguay national team. They only authorized the use of flags, headbands or bracelets.
The unpopular measure it was very criticized by students, their families and teachers at the institute. After the claims, the entity reconsidered and allowed that the children are dressed in albirrojaaccording to what could be seen in a video published on social networks by the school.
MEC promotes the use of albirroja in schools
For the inauguration of the 2026 World Cup, yesterday Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) published a video on its social media pages, with a message from the Minister of Education, Luis Ramirez.
The head of the MEC put on an albirroja shirt and asked the directors, teachers and parents to take advantage of this moment to make it learning. “Let’s help our children, our young people, to channel that passion and motivation that we all have and, in particular, that children have.”
He proposed that it be a chance to learn about mathematics, geography, social studies and language. “Broaden the mind, develop knowledgethat all our boys can go when Paraguay plays with the albirroja on and that we can have a festive atmosphereof development of physical activity”he suggested.
Ramírez recalled that the World Cup is equally important for combat sedentary lifestyle and seek to encourage the practice of sports. “Today the kids play little, they sit down, this has to help us encourage them with sports, with the movement of the port,” he remarks.
