USA vs Paraguay
Key Details
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group D, Matchday 1
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Saturday 13 June 2026, 2:00 BST
Our Prediction
USA 1-0 Paraguay
Key Stat
The USA have won five of nine meetings against Paraguay, with two draws and two defeats
Top Tip
USA to win
Jump to a section
Match Preview
Team News and Predicted XIs
Head to Head
Tips and Prediction

The United States open their 2026 World Cup campaign on home soil against Paraguay in the first round of Group D at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in the early hours of Saturday 13 June (2:00 BST).

Mauricio Pochettino's side, ranked 17th in the world, face a South American outfit returning to the World Cup after a 16-year absence but missing their most dangerous attacker, Julio Enciso, through injury sustained in their final warm-up match. For more football betting coverage, head to our dedicated section.

USA vs Paraguay preview and form guide

Recent form
USA
W L L W L
Paraguay
L W W L W

The United States have endured a turbulent preparation period under Pochettino, winning just two of their last five matches and conceding 12 goals in that span.

The end of 2025 provided cause for optimism, with a thumping 5-1 victory over Uruguay followed by a 2-1 win against Paraguay themselves in a friendly at Chester, Pennsylvania.

March 2026 brought a sharp reality check, however, as the Stars and Stripes were dismantled 5-2 by Belgium in Atlanta before losing 2-0 to Portugal in the same city three days later.

The final preparation phase restored some confidence on 31 May, when Pochettino's men beat Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte, with Sergino Dest opening the scoring and Christian Pulisic ending a five-month goal drought with a composed finish from Ricardo Pepi's lay-off.

The 2-1 defeat to Germany in Chicago on 6 June still offered encouragement, as Antonee Robinson responded to Kai Havertz's second-minute opener with a spectacular 23-metre volley, and Pochettino kept his strongest starting line-up on the pitch throughout the second half.

USA vs Paraguay comparison
Last 5 games
USA
Paraguay
FIFA Ranking
17
40
Wins
2
3
Draws
0
0
Losses
3
2
Goals Scored
11
9
Goals Conceded
12
5
Clean Sheets
0
2

Paraguay under Gustavo Alfaro are a side built on defensive resilience and collective discipline, having transformed from a team with one point from three qualifying matches into one that accumulated 23 points from their next 12, finishing sixth in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points, the same total as Brazil.

The numbers from qualifying paint a clear picture of their identity: just 14 goals scored in 18 matches, the lowest average of any automatic qualifier from the CONMEBOL zone, but only 10 conceded, the third-best defensive record behind Ecuador and Argentina.

Six of their seven qualifying victories came by a single-goal margin, and their average possession of 37.5% was the lowest of all ten South American sides, underlining Alfaro's willingness to cede the ball and strike on the counter.

In their warm-up programme, Paraguay beat Greece 1-0 in Athens, lost 2-1 to Morocco in Lens and hammered Nicaragua 4-0, though that final test was overshadowed by the injury to Julio Enciso, who was stretchered off at the 25-minute mark with a double impact to his thigh and quadriceps.

USA vs Paraguay team news and predicted XIs

USA

Outs and doubts – USA
Doubt
Chris Richards
Crystal Palace – Ankle injury, only recently resumed training

Pochettino named his 26-man squad on 26 May in New York, with 13 members of the 2022 World Cup squad returning, a record number of holdovers between consecutive editions for the national team.

The USA are expected to line up in a flexible back three, with veteran captain Tim Ream, 38, at its heart alongside Mark McKenzie of Toulouse and, fitness permitting, Chris Richards of Crystal Palace, who has only just resumed training after an ankle problem.

Tyler Adams of Bournemouth and Weston McKennie of Juventus will anchor the midfield, with Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson operating as wing-backs in a 3-4-2-1 system that Pochettino has favoured in recent matches.

Christian Pulisic, the 27-year-old AC Milan forward with 86 caps and 33 international goals, will play in a free role behind lone striker Folarin Balogun, the Monaco forward who scored 19 goals across all competitions last season. For betting markets on the match, our bet365 review covers what the operator offers on World Cup fixtures.

Paraguay

Outs and doubts – Paraguay
Out
Julio Enciso
Strasbourg – Thigh/quadriceps injury, stretchered off at 25 mins vs Nicaragua (5 June)
Doubt
Damian Bobadilla
Sao Paulo – Unspecified fitness concern

Alfaro finalised his 26-man selection on 1 June, with just three players from the Paraguayan domestic league and seven plying their trade in Brazilian football, headed by captain Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras, who has 89 caps to his name.

The headline absentee is Julio Enciso, the 22-year-old Strasbourg attacker who scored four goals in qualifying and 12 for his club this season, ruled out after being stretchered off during the Nicaragua friendly on 5 June with a double impact to his thigh.

Without Enciso, Alfaro lose their most unpredictable attacking threat, leaving Antonio Sanabria of Cremonese, 30, with 48 caps and seven international goals, to lead the line alongside Miguel Almiron of Atlanta United.

The midfield will feature Kaku (Al Ain, 33 caps), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Mauricio (Palmeiras) in a 4-4-2 shape, with Diego Gomez of Brighton providing width on the right flank.

Omar Alderete of Sunderland brings Premier League rhythm to a back four also containing Gomez, Junior Alonso of Atletico Mineiro and Juan Jose Caceres of Dynamo Moscow, with Gatito Fernandez of Cerro Porteno between the posts.

USA vs Paraguay predicted XIs

USA predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Freese; McKenzie, Richards, Ream; Dest, Adams, McKennie, Robinson; Tillman, Pulisic; Balogun.

Predicted XI
USA
3-4-2-1
M Freese
M McKenzie
C Richards
T Ream
A Robinson
T Adams
W McKennie
S Dest
M Tillman
C Pulisic
F Balogun

Paraguay predicted XI (4-4-2): Gatito Fernandez; Caceres, Gustavo Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; Diego Gomez, Cubas, Kaku, Mauricio; Almiron, Sanabria.

Predicted XI
Paraguay
4-4-2
Gatito Fernandez
J Caceres
G Gomez
O Alderete
J Alonso
D Gomez
A Cubas
Kaku
Mauricio
M Almiron
A Sanabria

USA vs Paraguay head to head

Head to head record
USA
2 – 1
Paraguay
Last meeting: 15 November 2025 – International Friendly
5 USA wins 2 draws 2 Paraguay wins

The two nations have met nine times, with the record firmly in the favour of the United States: five wins, two draws and just two defeats.

Their only World Cup meeting came at the inaugural 1930 tournament in Uruguay, when the USA recorded a 3-0 group-stage victory that helped them progress to the semi-finals.

The most recent encounter was a friendly in November 2025 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, where the hosts prevailed 2-1 through goals from Giovanni Reyna and Folarin Balogun, though both sides fielded significantly different line-ups to those expected at the World Cup.

Paraguay have won just one of their eight World Cup openers in history and have never beaten a host nation at a World Cup, a double historical burden heading into this fixture in California.

USA vs Paraguay tips and prediction

Top Tip
USA to win
1.90
The United States are playing at home in front of their own supporters at the SoFi Stadium, and Paraguay are without Enciso, their most potent attacking weapon. The hosts have scored in six of their last seven matches on American soil, totalling 13 goals in that run.
Value Bet
Under 2.5 goals
1.55
Paraguay scored just 14 goals in 18 qualifying matches, the lowest average of any automatic CONMEBOL qualifier, and six of their seven victories came by a single-goal margin. Alfaro's compact, low-possession approach points towards a tight contest with few clear-cut chances.
Longshot
USA 1-0 Paraguay (correct score)
5.75
Paraguay kept eight clean sheets in 18 qualifying matches, the third-best record in CONMEBOL. A single goal may well be enough to decide the match, mirroring the pattern of six of Paraguay's seven qualifying wins, all settled by a one-goal margin.
Free Choice
Christian Pulisic anytime goalscorer
3.10
Pulisic, with 33 goals in 86 caps, ended a five-month scoring drought against Senegal on 31 May. Pochettino deploys him in a free role behind the striker with licence to drift centrally, an ideal position to exploit any gaps in Paraguay's defensive block. As outlined in our NetBet review, there are competitive odds available on this market.
Score prediction
USA 1-0 Paraguay
The qualifying data from South America points towards a low-scoring contest. Paraguay recorded the lowest goals-per-game average among the automatic CONMEBOL qualifiers (0.78), while the USA have found the net in six of their last seven home fixtures. A solitary goal for the hosts appears the most likely outcome.
  • Paraguay scored just 14 goals in 18 qualifying matches, the lowest average of any automatic South American qualifier
  • Six of Paraguay's seven qualifying victories came by a single-goal margin
  • Paraguay's average possession in qualifying was 37.5%, the lowest of all ten South American nations
  • Paraguay kept eight clean sheets in 18 qualifying matches, the third-best record in CONMEBOL
  • The USA have scored in six of their last seven home matches, netting 13 goals in that span

USA vs Paraguay frequently asked questions

When and where is USA vs Paraguay?
USA vs Paraguay takes place on Saturday 13 June 2026 at 2:00 BST (9:00 PM local time on Friday 12 June) at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It is the opening Group D fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is our USA vs Paraguay prediction?
Our prediction is USA 1-0 Paraguay. The hosts are favoured thanks to home advantage and a positive record in the head-to-head (five wins in nine meetings), while Paraguay will be without star attacker Julio Enciso and are expected to adopt a conservative approach.
What is the USA vs Paraguay top tip?
Our top tip is a USA victory at odds of 1.90. The United States are playing in front of their home crowd and face a Paraguay side missing their best attacker, Julio Enciso, who was injured in their final warm-up match.
Have the USA and Paraguay played before?
Yes, the two sides have met nine times. The USA have won five, with two draws and two Paraguay victories. The most recent meeting was in November 2025 (USA 2-1 Paraguay in a friendly), and the only World Cup encounter dates back to 1930 (USA 3-0).
Will Julio Enciso play against the USA?
Julio Enciso is highly unlikely to feature after being stretchered off at the 25-minute mark of the friendly against Nicaragua on 5 June, with a double impact injury to his thigh and quadriceps. The 22-year-old Strasbourg attacker, who scored four goals in qualifying, is awaiting further medical assessments.
Who is the leading scorer in the USA World Cup squad?
Christian Pulisic is the leading scorer in the current USA squad, with 33 goals in 86 international appearances. The AC Milan forward is appearing at his second World Cup following Qatar 2022 and represents the primary attacking threat for Pochettino's side.