United States meets Paraguay in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood, California. The co-hosts will look to launch their home tournament with a strong performance in their opening match on home soil, while Paraguay aims to make a positive impression in its first World Cup appearance in 16 years.
How to watch
- Match: United States vs Paraguay
- Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
- Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
- Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
- TV (English): FOX
- TV (Spanish): Telemundo
- Streaming: FOX Sports app, FOX One, Tubi (free for select matches including this one), Peacock (en español)
About United States
The United States, ranked in the top 20 of the latest FIFA rankings, qualified automatically as a co-host nation and enters the tournament with high expectations on home soil. Under its coaching staff, the team has blended experienced players with emerging talent and will look to harness strong home support in Los Angeles.
Star players to watch include captain Christian Pulisic, dynamic attackers like Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun, and a solid defensive core featuring players such as Tyler Adams and goalkeeper Matt Turner, as the USMNT aims to start its campaign with momentum in front of an expectant American crowd.
About Paraguay
Paraguay, ranked approximately in the mid-40s, returns to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010 after securing qualification through CONMEBOL. Coached with an emphasis on organization and resilience, the side brings a compact, hardworking unit capable of causing problems for technically superior opponents.
Key figures include experienced attackers such as Miguel Almirón and a mix of domestic and European-based players looking to exceed low expectations and secure valuable points in a group featuring two strong sides and a motivated host nation.
Match storyline
This early Group A clash pits South Korea’s technical speed and fluid attacking transitions against Czechia’s compact, physical European organization in what could prove a pivotal swing match for second place behind Mexico. The contrast in styles—Asian precision and pace versus Central European resilience and set-piece danger—offers a compelling tactical battle on Mexican soil, with both sides knowing a strong opening result could shape their knockout path in the 48-team tournament.
What’s at stake
A win for either side would deliver crucial early points in Group A and significantly boost their chances of finishing in the top two (or as one of the best third-placed teams) to reach the Round of 32. For South Korea, it would validate their qualifying dominance and build confidence for tougher tests ahead; for Czechia, it would mark a strong return to the global stage after two decades away and keep their hopes alive in a group featuring two co-hosts and a motivated African side. The result will immediately influence group dynamics and psychological momentum.
South Korea will lean on their technical quality and experience to claim the points and establish themselves as serious contenders for advancement, while Czechia’s proven playoff resilience could make this a far tighter contest than the rankings suggest.
Key tournament facts to have on hand
- Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
- Hosts: United States (78 matches), Mexico (13), Canada (13)
- Teams: 48, expanded from 32
- Groups: 12 (A through L), four teams per group
- Total matches: 104
- Format: Group stage, Round of 32 (new this tournament), Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third-place playoff, Final
- Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa, June 11 at 3 p.m. ET, Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca)
- Final: July 19 at 3 p.m. ET, New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ)
- English-language TV: FOX (70 matches), FS1 (34 matches)
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo (92 matches), Universo (12 matches)
Streaming: FOX Sports app, FOX One, Tubi (free for select matches including this one), Peacock (en español)
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