USA vs Paraguay Key Stats: FIFA World Cup 2026
by Trystan Pugh ·
Updated
Below you can find key stats for USA vs Paraguay. From historical trends to player milestones, we have you covered for every match at FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada & Mexico!
- The only previous FIFA World Cup meeting between the USA and Paraguay came in the 1930 group stage, where the USA won 3-0 in Montevideo to advance to the semi‑finals. It was Paraguay’s first World Cup match and the USA’s second. Bert Patenaude scored the first hat‑trick in FIFA World Cup history in that fixture.
- The USA have won five of their nine matches against Paraguay, including all of the last three, the most recent 2-1 in November 2025 in a friendly in Chester, Pennsylvania.
- The 2026 edition, which the USA are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, will see the Stars and Stripes compete for the 12th time in a FIFA World Cup. They previously hosted the tournament solo in 1994, reaching the round of 16 before a narrow 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Brazil.
- The Stars and Stripes’ best World Cup performance came in the inaugural 1930 edition, when they reached the semi-finals. They also advanced to the quarter-finals in 2002.
- The USA have progressed from the group stage in each of their last three appearances (2010, 2014 and 2022) and have reached the knockout phase in five of their last seven participations overall.
- Since being edged out 2-1 by Ghana in their final group match at the 2006 tournament, the USA have tasted defeat just once in their last nine group-stage outings (W3 D5): a 1-0 reverse against eventual champions Germany in the 2014 edition.
- The USA’s all‑time FIFA World Cup record against CONMEBOL opposition stands at P5 W2 D0 L3. They have not faced a South American team at the finals since 1994, when they lost 1-0 to Brazil in the round of 16 having earlier defeated Colombia 2-1 in the group stage.
- The USA have only failed to score in two of their last 14 FIFA World Cup matches.
- Only one of the USA’s 37 FIFA World Cup matches has finished 0-0: their group‑stage draw with England at Qatar 2022.
- The USA have lost their opening match in only one of their last five FIFA World Cup participations (W2 D2).
- The teams’ head coaches, Mauricio Pochettino (USA) and Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay), were both born and bred in the Argentinian province of Santa Fé.
- Mauricio Pochettino is the first South American head coach to lead the USA in the FIFA World Cup.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s only competitive international goal for Argentina, and one of just two he scored in 20 appearances, came in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Asunción in October 2001, a 2–2 draw.
- Paraguay are making their ninth FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026, ending a 16-year absence from the tournament. They most recently participated in 2010.
- The 2010 edition marked Paraguay’s best-ever World Cup performance, as they reached the quarter-finals for the first time. They were narrowly eliminated by eventual champions Spain, with David Villa scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute.
- In addition to their 2010 quarter-final run, Paraguay have reached the round of 16 on three occasions, doing so in consecutive instalments in 1986, 1998 and 2002.
- Paraguay have a balanced FIFA World Cup record against Concacaf teams: one win, one draw, one loss. Beyond their 3-0 defeat to the USA in 1930, they drew 1-1 with Mexico in the 1986 group stage and beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in the 2006 group stage.
- Paraguay have lost only three of their last 17 group matches at the FIFA World Cup (W6 D8).
- Paraguay have won their opening match in only one of their eight previous FIFA World Cup participations (D4 L3). Their lone victory came in 1986, a 1-0 win over Iraq.
- CONMEBOL teams have won 11 of their last 13 FIFA World Cup matches against Concacaf teams (D1 L1).
- Just as Gustavo Alfaro leads Paraguay at this edition, the team were also guided by an Argentine head coach in their most recent FIFA World Cup appearance in 2010, when Gerardo Martino took them on a memorable run to the quarter‑finals.
- Gustavo Alfaro was head coach of Ecuador at Qatar 2022 when they exited at the group stage despite picking up four points from their three matches.
- At 38 years and 250 days, Tim Ream could become the oldest player ever to make a FIFA World Cup appearance for the USA, surpassing Fernando Clavijo, who was 38 years and 162 days old when he faced Brazil on 4 July 1994.
- At 38 years and 75 days, Gatito Fernández could become the oldest player ever to appear in a FIFA World Cup for Paraguay, surpassing José Luis Chilavert, who was 36 years and 323 days old when he faced Germany on 15 June 2002.
