Image source: Getty Images
2026 World Cup
Group D
USA vs Paraguay
SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, Los Angeles, USA
Saturday, 13 June 2026
01:00
Co-hosts USA and Paraguay will battle it out in the 2026 World Cup Group D opener on 13 June.
Head-to-head
The two nations have met nine times: the USA won five matches, Paraguay won two, and two draws were recorded. The most recent encounter was a friendly in November 2025, where the USA won 2-1.
This will be their second meeting at a World Cup (USA won 3-0 in 1930). Paraguay return to the tournament for the first time since 2010, while the USA aim to make history as co-hosts on home soil.
Team News
Mauricio Pochettino's USA have several players returning from long-term injuries, including Chris Richards (ankle ligaments) and Miles Robinson.
Captain and star attacker Christian Pulisic is fully fit and ready to lead the line in front of a passionate home crowd.
Meanwhile, Paraguay, led by Gustavo Alfaro, will miss talented attacker Julio Enciso due to a thigh injury.
Veteran captain Gustavo Gómez and forward Miguel Almirón are fully fit and expected to start.
Key Players
Christian Pulisic is one of the USA’s biggest threats; his creativity, dribbling, pace and leadership make him the focal point of the attack.
The AC Milan attacker's quality will be vital if the USA are to kick off their home World Cup with a win.
Miguel Almirón is Paraguay’s main creative outlet and danger man.
A skilful dribbler with pace and vision, the Atlanta United star can trouble any defence on the counter and remains central to Paraguay’s attacking hopes.
Quotes
“My message to the players is we need to compete better than Paraguay. That is going to be difficult," said USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino about Paraguay.
“We need to show our respect to our opponents... We cannot win before we play. We cannot start to think about the next stage when we didn’t play and face these guys. And that is going to be, for me, a wrong message.
“Paraguay was amazing in the qualification in South America.”
2026 FIFA World Cup - Group D Full Fixtures
01:00 — Saturday, 13 June 2026
USA vs Paraguay
04:00 — Sunday, 14 June 2026
Australia vs Türkiye
19:00 — Friday, 19 June 2026
USA vs Australia
03:00 — Saturday, 20 June 2026
Türkiye vs Paraguay
02:00 — Friday, 26 June 2026
Türkiye vs USA
02:00 — Friday, 26 June 2026
Paraguay vs Australia
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