United Statesvs
Paraguay
Group Stage · Fri, Jun 12, 2026 · 02:00 ET · Estadio Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Pulisic's homecoming in a pressure cooker
Christian Pulisic returns to US soil needing to justify his captaincy after mixed club form. Paraguay will target his defensive lapses — Miguel Almirón loves drifting into that left half-space. Houston’s 3pm kickoff (98°F forecast) may force Berhalter to bench Gio Reyna for Aaronson’s engine. The last meeting was a 1-0 Paraguay win in 2019, but this US squad has more European pedigree.
Paraguay’s set-piece trap
La Albirroja scored 43% of their CONMEBOL qualifiers goals from dead balls. Julio Enciso’s deliveries to Gustavo Gómez (6’3”) could exploit US weakness — they conceded 7 set-piece goals in 2023. Expect Berhalter to start 6’4” Miles Robinson over Ream despite his lack of pace against counterattacks. Paraguay’s 5-4-1 morphs into a 3-4-3 in transition, overloading US fullbacks.
Third-place insurance starts now
With Netherlands likely topping Group D, this is essentially a playoff for second. A draw keeps both alive but complicates advancement — only 8 of 12 third-place teams progress. The US has never lost an opening World Cup match on home soil (1994: 1-1 vs Switzerland). Paraguay’s last WC win was 2010 (2-0 vs Slovakia).
Match details
- Competition: World Cup 2026
- Stage: Group Stage
- Venue: Estadio Los Angeles, Los Angeles
- Kickoff: Fri, Jun 12, 2026 · 02:00 ET
Teams
Related matches
Frequently asked questions
What time is USA vs Paraguay?+
3pm ET on June 12, 2026 at Houston’s NRG Stadium (local time 2pm CT).
How to watch USA vs Paraguay?+
Fox holds US English rights, Telemundo for Spanish. Streaming via Peacock (Spanish) and Fox Sports app (English).
Who is favored to win USA vs Paraguay?+
Early odds have US at -140, Paraguay +380 (DraftKings). The heat narrows the gap.
Has the US ever beaten Paraguay?+
Yes, but not since 1994 (3-0 friendly). Paraguay won the last competitive meeting (2016 Copa America).
What happens if USA loses to Paraguay?+
They’d likely need at least 4 points from Netherlands and playoff winner to advance. Third-place teams with 3 points often miss the cut.