USA vs Paraguay
The United States are already in for a dogfight in the opening matchday of the World Cup 2026, as they’re up against Paraguay on Friday night at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The last time these two teams clashed, it didn’t end well, so they’re in for an acid test right away.
This tournament is why the Stars and Stripes hired Mauricio Pochettino, and the former Tottenham boss will be under immense scrutiny. Many expect them to at least progress out of Group D, and failing to do so would be considered a catastrophe.
Meanwhile, Paraguay are happy to be back after a 16-year absence, so La Albirroja aim to make it count. Gustavo Alfaro’s men head into this match with high confidence, following their 4-0 rout of Nicaragua in their most recent international friendly.
Who do you think will draw first blood between these two teams? Read our SBOTOP preview below to learn more.
Talking Points
USA yet to solve goalkeeper dilemma
The United States will fancy their chances of making a deep World Cup run this year, as they will deploy one of their most stacked squads, and it helps that they’ll be backed by their fans at home. From the forwards to the backline, head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have a lot to work with to his advantage.
However, their goalkeeper situation is not yet fully resolved. Right now, they have Matt Turner, Matt Freese, and Chris Brady, with Turner and Freese likely battling for the No. 1 starting role, and the 22-year-old Brady will serve as the third-choice understudy.
Turner seized the starting spot in the build-up to the World Cup 2022, starting in Qatar and producing several strong performances. However, after a dip in form for club and country, he ceded the job to Freese last year.
Freese seemed on his way to lock down the World Cup starting job. However, Pochettino offered Turner a chance to reclaim the spot Freese had taken from him. Right now, it’s anyone’s guess who will start against Paraguay. But we feel Turner will get the nod since he’s been the best goalkeeper in MLS this season.
Paraguay anxious about starboy’s fitness
Julio Enciso was one of the reasons why Paraguay are back in the World Cup, as the Strasbourg youngster scored three goals in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. The 22-year-old is expected to lead up front alongside Antonio Sanabria, but Enciso is in danger of missing the first game on Friday.
According to reports, Enciso could be ruled out in the opener against the United States due to a lingering thigh injury. If this is the case, Paraguay will likely turn to Ramon Sosa or Mauricio to take his place on the left flank.
Besides Enciso, Paraguay can also rely on Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, and Omar Alderete to give the hosts problems this weekend.
History
Friday marks the first time since the inaugural edition in 1930 that the United States and Paraguay will meet in the group stage. At the time, the Stars and Stripes won 3-0 against La Albirroja, which helped them take the top spot in Group 4 to progress to the semi-finals before losing 6-1 to Argentina, who subsequently lost 4-2 to Uruguay in the final.
In the six meetings that followed, the United States won four more games, while Paraguay won twice. These two teams last met in an international friendly last November, where the 2-1 result (in favour of the United States) descended into chaos.
During stoppage time, Alex Freeman and Gustavo Gomez got into an altercation, as both players didn’t want to let go of the ball for a throw-in. Both countries emptied their benches, but cooler heads eventually prevailed.
Betting Tip
The World Cup 2026 odds expect the hosts to beat their visitors in LA on Friday. The United States are favoured to win at 2.01, while Paraguay are at 3.87, and a draw is valued at 3.26 in the 1X2 market.
The Stars and Stripes will be eager to put on a show for their home crowd, and one can expect several World Cup 2026 highlights from this fixture. Besides our recommended bet, bettors may also consider adding Over 2.00 at 1.73, Over 2.25 at 2.03, Over 2.50 at 2.38, and Total Goal 2-3 at 1.98 to the parlay.
On the other hand, the Correct Score of 2-1 in favour of the United States – the result of their previous encounter – will yield a tidy payout of 8.60 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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