Group D Showdown: USA vs Paraguay – Hosts' Opening Test
The USA take on South American side Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. The co-hosts aim to start with a win, but Paraguay's counter-attacking threat is real.
Group D kicks off with co-host USA facing Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The USA are making their second home World Cup appearance (after 1994) and expectations are high.
Manager Gregg Berhalter boasts attackers like Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and Folarin Balogun. Pulisic, with experience at Chelsea and AC Milan, is the creative hub.
Paraguay qualified ahead of Peru and Chile with a resilient defensive style. Their counter-attacks are led by speedy forward Miguel Almirón, while veteran midfielder Víctor Cáceres adds experience.
The sides have met rarely; a recent friendly ended 1-0 to the USA. But the World Cup is a different stage – Paraguay have reached the quarter-finals twice and are no pushovers.
The USA must be wary of Paraguay's set-piece threat, given their height advantage. The hosts should use home momentum to score early and avoid a stalemate.
Group D also includes Australia and Turkey, making every point vital. A home win would put the USA in the driving seat; Paraguay will aim for a draw.
SoFi Stadium holds over 70,000 fans and will be packed. The sea of Stars and Stripes will provide a huge boost for the home side.
(This article is from fan site wc2026guides.com, unofficial and for enthusiasts only.)