USA vs Paraguay Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
The last of the three co-hosts to get their tournament underway this summer are USA with The Stars and Stripes kicking off against a solid Paraguay side in Los Angeles.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
USA preview: Poch’s USMNT
Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has endured an underwhelming stint in charge of the United States thus far, with difficult turnouts in 2025 at the CONCACAF Nations League, where they finished fourth after winning three on the bounce before that, and also being beaten by Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The USA appeared to have turned a corner with some more cohesive performances in the autumn last year but the March international break saw them regress once again with a demolition at the hands of Portugal as well as a defeat to Belgium a few days later.
That improvement from the back end of last year was on display in their pre-tournament friendlies, though, as the USMNT entertainingly defeated Senegal by three goals to two before a competitive 2-1 defeat to Germany.
Paraguay preview: Impressive Paraguayans
Ever since the appointment of Gustavo Alfaro mid-way through CONMEBOL qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026, the South Americans have been extremely impressive and they have been very difficult to beat and score against - conceding just ten goals in their 18 qualifiers.
Paraguay suffered just two defeats in 13 qualifiers since the appointment of Alfaro and, as they travel to Los Angeles, the Paraguayans will fancy themselves to be an obdurate opponent in a seemingly very evenly matched group alongside the US, as well as Turkiye and Australia.
In their immediate preparation for the FIFA World Cup, Paraguay have played just one game but it produced a strong performance as they dispatched of Nicaragua by four goals to nil.
USA team news: A few doubts
Mauricio Pochettino is dealing with a few doubts for this one with Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Richards, who missed the back end of last season, had remained unavailable for their pre-tournament friendlies but Pochettino has now confirmed that he is available for their opener, albeit he has not confirmed whether he would start and whether or not he may only be able to feature off the bench to start with.
Pochettino has a decision to make between the sticks with Matt Turner and Matt Freese competing for the 'number one' spot and the Argentine has said he has made his mind up but did not reveal who.
Antonee Robinson limped off against Germany after scoring a screamer in that game but Pochettino has eased fears of a hamstring injury by suggesting it was just cramps and so he should be available. Tyler Adams also missed a training session this week but it doesn't appear that he will be unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Turner; Freeman, McKenzie, Ream, Robinson; Adams, McKennie; Reyna, Pulisic, Weah; Balogun
Unavailable:
Questionable: Robinson (Fitness), Adams (Fitness)
Paraguay team news: Enciso a doubt
At the time of writing, prior to Gustavo Alfaro's pre-match press conference, Julio Enciso has to be deemed to be a doubt after the former Brighton and Hove Albion attacker succumbed to two injuries at the same time, a hamstring issue and a wrist issue, against Nicaragua and he was forced off in tears. Gustavo Alfaro has since said that Enciso is 'doing very well', albeit a decision on his availability will be made late on.
Paraguay do have some other stars in the final third, such as Brighton's Diego Gomez and former Newcastle United man Miguel Almiron. At the back, there is also a fair bit of quality and experience with Sunderland defender Omar Alderete and Palmeiras' Gustavo Gomez.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Fernandez; Caceres, Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; Cubas, Kaku; Almiron, Gomez, Sosa; Sanabria
Unavailable:
Questionable: Enciso (Injured)
USA’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Chris Richards ($4.1m) – Defender
Christian Pulisic ($7.0m) – Midfielder
Weston McKennie ($6.1m) – Midfielder
Matchday 1 captain pick: Christian Pulisic
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Christian Pulisic
Free kicks: Christian Pulisic
Corners: Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna
Paraguay’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Omar Alderete ($4,1m) – Defender
Julio Enciso ($6.6m) – Midfielder
Miguel Almiron ($6.0m) – Midfielder
Matchday 1 captain pick: Julio Enciso
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso
Free kicks: Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso
Corners: Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron
Key stats
- 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 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 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.
- 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 teams’ head coaches, Mauricio Pochettino (USA) and Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay), were both born and bred in the Argentinian province of Santa Fé.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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USA vs Paraguay prediction
Despite boasting some impressive talents in the final third, such as their so-called ‘Captain America’ Christian Pulisic, who has been in decent form for AC Milan this season, the simple lack of cohesion and general unhappiness surrounding the Americans may well cause them to be a bit disjointed here. Paraguay are not a team you want to be facing if you are concerned about disorganisation in the final third because they have proven themselves to be capable of suffocating the best and also capable of rallying well - especially away from home, as they did with famous, stirring draws in Bolivia and Colombia in qualification. As they head away again, siding with the South Americans would appear a decent bet for this one in California.
USA vs Paraguay betting tip: Double chance – Paraguay to win or draw
