The USMNT will start their World Cup 2026 campaign today, and USA vs. Paraguay meet in a Group D match on Friday, June 12, at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. ET.
This matchup gives both teams a chance to shape the Group D standings, with USA, Paraguay, Turkiye, and Australia all competing for a spot in the knockout stage.
Below, we’ll give you a full USA vs. Paraguay preview for today’s World Cup match, including how to watch, what’s at stake in the group, projected Lineups, and key players to know.
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How to Watch USA vs. Paraguay in World Cup 2026
Match: USA vs. Paraguay
Favorite: USA to win – 1.96x payout via PrizePicks
Spread: USA -1.5 – 3.84x via PrizePicks
Group: Group D
Date: Friday, June 11
Kickoff Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Los Angeles Stadium
City: Inglewood, CA
How to Watch: FS1
Find our USMNT Prediction vs. Paraguay, including Player Picks
USA vs. Paraguay Preview for USMNT World Cup Game Today
The USA enters this opening World Cup match in Group D with expectations of — at the very least — advancing to the 32-team knockout stage on home soil. With Turkiye being a formidable team in the group, the United States desperately needs a result — be is one or three points — in their clash with Paraguay.
Entering Friday’s World Cup opener in Los Angeles, USMNT are the favorite to win Group D, carrying a 2.32x payout.
On the other hand, Paraguay is trying to play spoiler as the team with the second-highest payout (4.76x) to win Group D, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
There is a history between USA vs. Paraguay, with a history dating back to the inaugural 1930 World Cup. Most recently, the USA won a 2025 International Friendly, 2-1, which included a sideline skirmish.
USA is 5-2-2 all-time vs. Paraguay.
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How USMNT Can Win vs. Paraguay: Group D World Cup
USA to Win vs. Paraguay Payout via PrizePicks: 1.96x
USA Best Players to Watch: F Christian Pulisic, F Folarin Balogun, MF Tyler Adams, MF Weston McKennie, DF Chris Richards
Besides playing in front of raucous home fans, the United States has a handful of players who have key World Cup experience, after advancing to the Round of 16 in 2022.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino also has experience coaching on the biggest stage, so the red, white, and blue have hopes of performing well in the group stage, despite some shaky results in the friendlies ahead of the tournament.
In addition to Pulisic and Balogun as a solid attacking duo, the midfield duo of McKennie and Adams has high work rates and can generate chances and maintain possession. Paraguay is a team that can struggle to score at times, and F Julio Enciso is uncertain to play on Friday.
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How Paraguay Can Win vs. USA
Paraguay to Win vs. USA Payout via PrizePicks: 3.7x
Paraguay Best Players to Watch: F Julio Enciso, F Antonio Sanabria, F Miguel Almiron, F Diego Gómez, F Andrés Cubas
While Enciso might be sidelined for Paraguay, the United States may not have DF Chris Richards fully fit in their back line. Manager Gustavo Alfaro’s side plays with a physical nature that can make opponents uncomfortable, which could quiet the home crowd.
Paraguay are an experienced national team, with an average age of 29.3 for their projected starting XI. If Paraguay can remain disciplined on defense, they can defeat a United States squad that has continuously underwhelmed.
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USA vs. Paraguay Lineups for World Cup 2026 – Friday, June 12
Here are the projected USA vs. Paraguay lineups for Friday’s World Cup group stage match. Lineups are not official and are based on historical data.
USMNT Lineup vs. Paraguay for World Cup Group Stage
Projected Formation: 5-3-2
- Goalkeeper: Matthew Freese
- Defense: Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Chris Richards, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson
- Midfield: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman
- Forwards: Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic
Paraguay Lineup vs. USA for World Cup Group Stage
Projected Formation: 4-4-2
- Goalkeeper: Gatito Fernández
- Defense: Juan José Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso
- Midfield: Mauricio, Diego Gómez, Kaku, Andrés Cubas
- Forwards: Miguel Almirón, Antonio Sanabria
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Key Players to Know for USA vs. Paraguay
Here are the key players to watch in Friday’s World Cup group-stage match between the USA and Paraguay, before you make your World Cup picks on PrizePicks.
USMNT Player to Know: F Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic Projections vs. Paraguay via PrizePicks: 2.5 Shots, 0.5 Goal + Assist (Demon), 30.5 Passes Attempted
Pulisic is the engine of the United States’ attack, so he’ll have the ball plenty to create chances for his teammates and himself.
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Other USMNT Players to Watch: Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams
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Paraguay Player to Know: F Miguel Almiron
Miguel Almiron Projections vs. Paraguay via PrizePicks: 0.5 Shots (Goblin), 0.5 Goal + Assist (Demon), 24.5 Passes Attempted
With Enciso uncertain to play, Almiron is going to see more opportunities in attack for Paraguay. Almiron scored in the team’s most recent friendly against Nicaragua, so he’s in decent form ahead of the opening match.
Note: There are reports that Enciso could start for Paraguay on Friday, which would make him the player to know instead of Almiron.
Other USMNT Players to Watch: Antonio Sanabria, Diego Gomez, Andres Cubas
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USMNT starts their World Cup campaign today vs. Paraguay in a match that will get Group D play underway on Friday, June 11, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1. The United States are projected to win Group D, looking to start with a result here vs. Paraguay, who is the favorite to finish No. 2 in the group.
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