USA vs Paraguay: World Cup 2026 Opening Match Preview

USA open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, in the first round of Group D. Both sides start level on zero points and goal difference, with USA listed first in the early group standings and Paraguay second. With no competitive form yet in this tournament, attention turns to their recent meetings.

Head-to-Head Record

The record shows a clear edge for USA in this matchup. They have hosted Paraguay in each of the last three encounters and won all three. Most recently, USA beat Paraguay 2-1 in a 2025 friendly at Subaru Park, having been level 1-1 at half-time. Before that, they recorded consecutive 1-0 victories, including a crucial Copa America group-stage win at Lincoln Financial Field in 2016.

Those results underline a pattern of USA edging tight, low-scoring contests when facing Paraguay on home soil. With both teams still untested in this World Cup cycle and statistical season data offering no separation, historical head-to-head meetings become the key reference point.

Verdict: Expect another narrow contest, with USA slightly favored to claim the points in front of a home crowd.