USA vs Paraguay-Group D Preview

America's Biggest Soccer Night in 32 Years

The FIFA World Cup returns to American soil for the first time in more than three decades Friday night. The USMNT kicks off its first group-stage match against Paraguay in Southern California.  

This 2026 World Cup has been circled on the calendar of US Soccer for nearly a decade. It is the long-awaited chance to finally rewrite a legacy of underachievement.

The nation is watching. The pressure is enormous.

Pochettino's First World Cup as a Manager

This will be ex-Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino's first World Cup as a coach. The pressure to produce a deep run is immense. 

USA's best finish came in 1930, when they beat Paraguay en route to claiming bronze. That is still the only time a CONCACAF nation finished inside the top four.  History gives them confidence against this opponent specifically.

USA's Firepower — Pulisic Leads the Line

Mauricio Pochettino has serious attacking firepower. Christian Pulisic, Mallik Tillman, and Folarin Balogun all feature in the attack.

Matt Freese of New York City FC looks to have taken the gloves from Matt Turner heading into the group stage.  

Veteran Tim Ream will start at the back alongside Chris Richards and Alex Freeman.

USA's Recent Form Carries Question Marks

The United States have won two and lost three of their last five matches. Their most recent outing ended in a 1-2 defeat to Germany on June 6.  

They beat Senegal 3-2 in late May. But suffered losses to Portugal (0-2) and Belgium (2-5) in March. 

Across five recent matches, USA scored 11 goals but also conceded 12. Defensive consistency remains the concern.

Paraguay Are Better Than Their Ranking Suggests

Paraguay arrive in better shape. They won three of their last five matches.  

They hammered Nicaragua 4-0 on June 5. Earlier in the year, they beat Mexico 2-1 away from home.

Miguel Almirón, who plays club football in the USA, leads their attack. Sunderland's Omar Alderete anchors the Paraguay defence.

Almirón knows American stadiums well. He will feel at home.

Head-to-Head History Favours USA

These teams have met nine times. The United States won five matches. Paraguay won two. Two ended in draws.  

The most recent meeting in 2025 ended 2-1 to the US. That result shows modern momentum sits with the home side.  

The Opta supercomputer gives the United States a 39.6% chance of winning their opener. Paraguay have a 33.8% probability of success.

Group D — What Lies Ahead

After Paraguay, USA face Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Türkiye on June 25 in Los Angeles.

Winning the opener makes everything easier. Losing it puts massive pressure on the next two games.

Match Details:

Both matches tomorrow carry enormous weight. Canada need their first World Cup win ever. USA need a strong start on home soil. June 13 delivers two must-watch fixtures.