FULL TIME: USA 4-1 Paraguay
The United States announced themselves on home soil with their biggest-ever World Cup win, a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium that had the partisan crowd roaring from the first half onward.
Goal Scorers
- 7' Damian Bobadilla (OWN GOAL) 1-0
- 31' Folarin Balogun (assist: Christian Pulisic) 2-0
- 45+5' Folarin Balogun (assist: Malik Tillman) 3-0
- 73' Mauricio (assist: Julio Enciso) 3-1
- 90+8' Gio Reyna (assist: Alex Freeman) 4-1
Star of the Match: Folarin Balogun
A brace in his World Cup debut, the first multi-goal game by a USMNT player since 1930. Born in NYC to Nigerian parents, raised in London, and now delivering on the biggest stage for the USA.
Historic Moments
- USA's highest-ever World Cup goal tally (previous best was 3)
- Sebastian Berhalter subbed on for Pulisic at half-time, joining father Gregg as the 2nd father-son duo to both play for the USMNT at a World Cup
- Massive statement for Pochettino's side heading into their next match vs Australia
👇 Original match preview below 👇
USA vs Paraguay: Match Details
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 / Group D, Matchday 1 |
| Date | Friday, June 12, 2026 |
| Kickoff Time | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
| Referee | Danny Makkelie |
| VAR | Carlos del Cerro Grande |
How to Watch USA vs Paraguay Live
If you're searching for "USA vs Paraguay live stream", here's where to watch the World Cup 2026 Group D opener:
- 🇺🇸 USA (English): Fox, Fox One
- 🇪🇸 USA (Spanish): Telemundo, Peacock
- 🆓 Free live stream: Tubi (sign-in required)
- 🇬🇧 UK: ITV1
- 🇮🇳 India: Zee5
- 🇦🇺 Australia: SBS
Fox's pregame coverage begins at 6 PM ET, including the SoFi Stadium opening ceremony ahead of the USMNT's first home World Cup match since 1994.
USA Team News & Form
Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT enters their World Cup 2026 opener under pressure. The hosts have lost 3 of their last 4 matches against Germany, Portugal, and Belgium, with their only win coming against Senegal last week.
Player to watch: Christian Pulisic looked sharp in the recent Germany friendly and is expected to lead the USA attack against Paraguay.
Paraguay Team News & Form
Paraguay return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals. Gustavo Alfaro's side arrive on a 9-match unbeaten run in qualifying, built around a disciplined, physical defensive structure.
Players to watch: Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso lead Paraguay's attacking threat and could punish a slow USMNT start.
USA vs Paraguay: Predicted Lineups
🇺🇸 USA (4-3-3)
Turner
Dest — C.Richards — M.Robinson — A.Robinson
Adams — McKennie — Musah
Weah — Pepi — Pulisic ⭐
🇵🇾 Paraguay (4-4-2)
Fernández
Alderete — Balbuena — Alonso — Villalba
Enciso — Cubas — Bobadilla — Alonso
Almirón ⭐ — Sanabria
USA vs Paraguay Prediction
Searches for "USA vs Paraguay prediction" are spiking ahead of kickoff. Here's our call:
A tight, low-scoring affair is likely. Paraguay's defensive setup is designed to frustrate exactly the type of inconsistent USMNT side seen in recent friendlies.
Final score prediction: USA 2-1 Paraguay
Home advantage and a loud SoFi Stadium crowd should give the hosts the edge in a close Group D opener.
Group D Standings Before Kickoff
| Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FAQ: USA vs Paraguay World Cup 2026
What time does USA vs Paraguay kick off?
USA vs Paraguay kicks off at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on Friday, June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Where is USA vs Paraguay being played?
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the USMNT's first home World Cup match since 1994. Capacity: 70,000.
How can I watch USA vs Paraguay for free?
Tubi is offering a free live stream of USA vs Paraguay (sign-in required). Fox and Fox One also broadcast the match in English in the USA. Full streaming guide 👉 How to Watch the World Cup Without Cable.
Who is favored to win USA vs Paraguay?
The USA are the slight favorites at home. Paraguay arrive on a 9-match unbeaten qualifying run but the USMNT's home advantage at SoFi Stadium is significant.
Prediction vs Reality
We predicted USA 2-1 Paraguay. The reality? USA 4-1 USMNT exceeded every expectation in a performance that sends a real message to the rest of Group D.
📌 Check back after the final whistle for our full USA vs Paraguay match report with goals, highlights, and reaction. Track live World Cup 2026 standings on our Group Tracker.
