USMNT Opens World Cup 2026 Against Paraguay in Group D Opener
The United States men's national team plays its first 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with kickoff at 9 p.m. ET. The match carries heightened significance as the first World Cup game on American soil in over three decades, with the US ranked 17th globally compared to Paraguay's 41st. A win is considered critical for the US to build momentum toward a deep tournament run, while Paraguay arrives as a defensively solid but offensively limited opponent missing key attacker Julio Enciso.
The United States men's national team opens Group D play against Paraguay on Friday at SoFi Stadium, marking the country's first home World Cup match since 1994. Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has expressed confidence in his squad's physical and tactical readiness, warned reporters that Paraguay — who beat both Argentina and Brazil during CONMEBOL qualifying — will be a formidable opponent despite being the group's lowest-ranked side. Paraguay suffered a significant pre-tournament blow when forward Julio Enciso was ruled out of the opener with a thigh and ligament injury, leaving the attack to rely more heavily on Miguel Almiron and Diego Gomez. On the US side, defender Chris Richards has returned to training after an ankle injury, and Pochettino confirmed his starting XI is set, though he declined to reveal whether Matt Freese or Matt Turner would start in goal. The match carries political as well as sporting interest: President Trump called the team to offer support on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and California Governor Gavin Newsom are both expected in attendance, and Paraguay's president Santiago Pena has confirmed he will travel to Los Angeles for the game. Opta Analyst gives the US a 40.1 percent chance of victory, with Paraguay at 33.3 percent and a draw at 26.6 percent. The US holds a three-match winning streak over Paraguay, including a 2-1 friendly victory last November.
How coverage differed
Fox News framed the story largely around President Trump's call to the team and political dimensions, including a dig at liberals, while Al Jazeera and Channel NewsAsia focused on tactical and sporting analysis with only brief mentions of political figures attending. The Washington Examiner emphasized the Rubio-Newsom political subplot and 2028 presidential speculation, treating the match primarily as a political backdrop.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
World Cup Preview: USA vs. Paraguay | Presented by Nicolock
- ForbesCenter
USMNT Vs. Paraguay — How To Watch, Prediction And Projected Lineups
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
United States prepare for tough World Cup opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles
- Fox NewsRight
President Trump sends well wishes to USMNT prior to World Cup kick-off against Paraguay
- Al JazeeraLeft
USA vs Paraguay: World Cup 2026 group match – Trump, schedule, lineups
- Washington ExaminerRight
Rubio and Newsom set to meet at US-Paraguay World Cup game
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