US National Team to Open 2026 Home World Cup Against Paraguay. The United States kicks off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Los Angeles against Paraguay. The Americans enter the field as favorites and one of the tournament’s host nations. The match will be held at SoFi Stadium, with a Spanish referee officiating.
Tonight, Los Angeles time, the United States and Paraguay will face off in the opening match for the U.S. at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil. The game will take place at SoFi Stadium and marks the debut of one of the tournament’s three host nations. Spanish referee Carlos del Cerro Grande has been appointed as the main official.
The U.S. team enters the match as the favorite, ranked 17th in the world, while Paraguay sits at 40th. Key players for the Americans include AC Milan striker Christian Pulisic and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie. Expectations for the hosts are high, especially after their friendly win over Paraguay in 2025 (2:1).
Led by Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay is counting on a comeback and a return to the world stage after missing the last World Cup. The team’s attack is spearheaded by Miguel Almirón from Atlanta United and Julio Enciso, familiar to Spanish fans from Conference League games against Rayo Vallecano. In defense, Omar Alderete stands out, previously playing in La Liga and now for English side Sunderland.
Historically, the U.S. and Paraguay have met at the World Cup only once—in 1930, the Americans won 3–0. This adds extra intrigue: for Paraguay, this is a chance at revenge nearly a century later.
The tournament in the U.S. attracts attention not only for the sporting action but also for changes in broadcasting: all 2026 World Cup matches are now available on a single platform, as highlighted in the article about the launch of the complete broadcast package on DAZN. This decision made games more accessible to Spanish viewers and changed the usual way the World Cup is watched.
The 2026 World Cup is being held for the first time in three countries — the USA, Canada, and Mexico. A record number of teams are taking part, and matches are spread across North America's largest cities. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is one of the most modern stadiums in the world, with a capacity of over 70,000 spectators. For the U.S. team, performing well on home turf is a matter of prestige and fan expectations. Paraguay, on the other hand, is aiming to regain its status as a strong team after difficult years and missing recent World Cups.
