June 12, 2026
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Game Time
Saturday, June 13 at 1:00 AM UTC
After a chaotic Day One in Mexico City, the World Cup heads to Los Angeles for one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage: the United States kicks off its home tournament against Paraguay on Friday. Here's everything to know before kickoff.
If you're anywhere near LA, SoFi Stadium will be the place to be — this is the first World Cup match on U.S. soil since the country last hosted in 1994.
The Americans landed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye — and the schedule sets up as a true home tour for Mauricio Pochettino's side:
For Paraguay, this is a return to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence. Their last appearance, in 2010, ended in a quarterfinal run under a similarly physical, defense-first approach — and that history is exactly why this opener matters so much for both sides. A result here sets the tone for the rest of the group.
There's also a pressure subplot on the U.S. side. The USMNT enters this tournament 0-3 in their final tune-up friendlies of 2026, having lost to Germany, Portugal, and Belgium. A home World Cup opener in front of a packed SoFi Stadium is exactly the kind of moment that either settles those nerves — or amplifies them.
The good news for the U.S.: all 26 players are available for selection, including defender Chris Richards, who returned to full training this week after recovering from a sprained ankle. Pochettino has confirmed he's settled on a starting XI but, true to form, isn't revealing it before kickoff — saying only that the time for speeches is over and his team is ready.
On paper, the USMNT is set up in a 3-4-2-1, but most analysts expect Pochettino to deploy something closer to a 4-2-3-1 that can drop into a 5-4-1 shape without the ball, with Sergiño Dest sliding into a wingback role defensively.
Projected XI (compiled from outlet predictions, subject to change at kickoff):
That striker battle is the headline lineup question. Balogun offers more movement and link-up play; Pepi brings a more direct, in-the-box finishing threat. Whoever starts, the supporting cast — Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Tillman — gives the U.S. real ball-progression quality in midfield.
Under manager Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay have built their World Cup return around a physical, compact defensive structure designed to frustrate opponents and strike on the counter — the same blueprint that carried them to the 2010 quarterfinals.
The bigger story heading into Friday is the status of Julio Enciso. Paraguay's most dynamic attacker was stretchered off in tears during a pre-tournament friendly against Nicaragua, suffering a thigh bruise and a minor ligament issue affecting his quadriceps. Per Paraguayan outlet TigoSports, Enciso is confirmed out for the USA match, though there's hope he could return later in the group stage. Losing arguably the most talented attacker on either roster strips Paraguay of its sharpest creative outlet, which could make their already conservative gameplan even more defense-heavy.
On paper, this looks like a match the U.S. should control. Home crowd, home stadium, and a Paraguay side missing its most dynamic attacker all favor the USMNT — especially in the final third, where Pulisic and the Balogun/Pepi battle should create more sustained pressure than Paraguay can match going the other way.
That said, Alfaro's teams have built careers out of making favorites uncomfortable, and a USMNT side that lost three straight tune-ups will need to shake off some rust quickly. Expect a cagey first half, with the U.S. eventually breaking through behind a set piece or a moment of individual quality from Pulisic. A narrow USA win, 2-0 or 2-1, feels like the most likely outcome — but don't be surprised if Paraguay makes it a nervy night.