The United States begin their World Cup 2026 campaign tonight against Paraguay in a Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, carrying the weight of a nation expecting more than a round-of-16 exit.
Kick-off and TV
The match kicks off at 9 PM ET (04:00 Mecca time, Saturday), refereed by the Netherlands' Danny Makkelie, live across the beIN SPORTS network in the MENA region.
USA: home advantage and ambition
Mauricio Pochettino's side are favourites at home, built around athleticism, midfield energy and Christian Pulisic's end product, with Monaco striker Folarin Balogun (13 Ligue 1 goals this season) a genuine center-forward option.
Paraguay: dangerous opponents
Gustavo Alfaro's Paraguay arrive unbeaten in eight matches, set up to defend deep and counter. Miguel Almirón is their main outlet, though Julio Enciso is a doubt with a muscle injury.
Head-to-head and prediction
The USA lead the series with five wins, two draws and two defeats in nine meetings, and won the most recent encounter 2-1 in November 2025. Analysts favour the hosts but expect a tight, patient game. (Opta Analyst)
What's at stake
A perfect start would give the hosts momentum on home soil, while a positive result for Paraguay would boost their qualification hopes. With the new 48-team format rewarding the best third-placed sides, every point in matchday one matters. Stay with Malaab Al-An for the result and analysis as soon as the match ends.