USMNT vs Paraguay live: updates, stats, goals and highlights | 2026 World Cup Group D

Paraguay are having such a tough time even getting the ball out of their own half, and the crown are appreciating the effort from their guys. 

Tillman played McKinnie into the area on the right side, and he turned and looked for some support but he had none around and that attack fizzles. 

Paraguay have a decision to make at the break. How do they want to approach this second half if nothing changes on the scoresheet?

FIVE MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME

Bill Gates, Rob Lowe, Leonardo DiCaprio among the famous faces being seen around the LA Stadium. They have to be enjoying the show so far. 

McKinnie to the end line and he tucked it back to Tillman who got a good look but the space closed down quickly and his shot was blocked by Alderete. 

Paraguay look like a little sense of urgency is just entering their minds. They are pushing up more but that could leave them open in the back. 

The US look so calm when on the ball. Now they haven't had to do much chasing because they have controlled possession but it just looks easy for the US right now. 

Richards with a fantastic header off the Pulisic corner. He was leaning back and still directed it towards goal although it just bounced wide and out for a goal kick. 

McKinnie sent it in from the right side and the deflection found Tillman at the top of the area. He laced a shot that was blocked wide for a corner. 

Again it was a build up on the left side with Pulisic and Balogun knew exactly what to do with the fantastic ball sent into the middle. USA lead 2-0 early on, and this could get even uglier for Paraguay. 

I was going to say, even before the goal the crowd in LA is pretty knowledgable. They were applauding when possession was won back in the midfield. They were applauding when there were balls played back that needed to be played back in the name of possession. Knowledgeable crowd here in LA. Bravo. 

The USA chants are ringing around the LA Stadium. 

Enciso and Freeman involved in a coming together in the midfield and the US defender went down but got back up quickly. 

Balogun was put in by McKinnie and he slotted it home, but the flag went up late after Pulisic was ruled offside early in the action. 

Promising stuff still from the US, and they will continue to attack knowing that they are full of chances and full of ideas in the attacking third. 

The break might have done Paraguay a little bit of a favor. The US was rolling and controlling most of the possession, but this little timeout might have given Paraguay a moment to settle. 

Not sure if it was this rendition of the Star Spangled Banner or the excitement but the US has come out swinging in the first 23 minutes of this first half. 

The US have only lost once in the World Cup after scoring first and that came in 1950 against Spain. Not a bad sign going into the hydration break here from LA. 

I'll tell you what there is some great one and two touch play for the US right now. They seem like a team that is in synch and know what each other want to do in tight spaces around the box. 

US controlling all of the possession and not forcing the issue but taking their chances where they can get them. 

Ream from the back into the box for Tillman who tried a fancy flick back into the path of McKinnie but it was just cut out by the Paraguay back line. USMNT is growing in confidence after that early goal. 

Long throw from Caceres and Paraguay and at the moment that is really the only thing they have been able to come up with in the attacking third. 

Corner kick gets deflected out for Robinson who put it into the mix but Richards and Alderete clashed heads and play stop momentarily. 

Another chance for the USMNT. McKinnie turned into traffic, and the ball popped out to Balogun who served it up for Dest on the right side but a stray touch forced him to try and play it back into the middle. Corner kick to come after the deflection. 

Enciso with a couple of step overs at the top of the area and he lets a shot loose but that was slowly rolling wide left of the target. 

Paraguay look a little stunned after the early goal and that has allowed the US to possess and push up when they feel inclined. 

That was the third quickest goal by the US in a World Cup. Own goal in the 7th minute. 

McKinnie started that attack with some great dribbling and found Pulisic who looked like he was posing a threat from his first touch. He won't get an assist for that goal, but he did create it. 

Enciso sends in a halfhearted cross but Richards makes his first intervention of the night after missing the last few games with the US. 

Paraguay seem ok to drop back and put defenders behind the ball when the US are in possession. It could be tight in the attacking third, how will the US find the space to find their players in the box?

Pochettino stressed his team have to be intense and play with enthusiasm from the very start until the final minute. If not they will be in trouble in this tournament. They have come out well, can they sustain that for all 90 minutes?

McKinnie received a ball from the back and nodded it into the path of Balogun whose shot was blocked away by Alderete but both teams coming out on the front foot early in this match. 

Early attack from Paraguay and it was Almiron who got in between two defenders, Gomez ended up sending it over Freese from the end line but that attack ended in nothing. 

Early sign of life from the visitors and a warning for the US back line. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LOS ANGELES. 

THE USMNT EMBARK ON WHAT COULD BE A HISTORIC CAMPAIGN!!!

The entire stadium here at Los Angeles Stadium counts down to kick off... and

A 4-2-3-1 for Poch

It's Freese in goal, with Robinson at left back, Ream and Richards in the middle and Freeman on the right. In the middle we have Tillman and Adams, with McKinnie the attack at the 10. Pulisic and Dest are out wide with Balogun up top. 

The Star Spangled Banner is being sung by Dan + Shay from Los Angeles Stadium. They don't even need to sing into their mics. The fans are doing that for them. 

Both teams are coming out of the tunnel now, and the noise and nerves are palpable here from Los Angeles Stadium. This is a special moment for fans, for players and for the rest of the world that is watching along. 

World Cup 2026

Which is more expensive? A ticket for the World Cup final or NBA Finals?

World Cup or Finals? More bang for your buck

Have we mentioned things have changed in the 32 years since the United States hosted this event? Fashion has changed. Pop culture has changed. There is social media now. That didn't exist three decades ago. Oh yea. And everything is a lot more expensive now. I’m not sure how bad ticket prices were back in 1994, but going to the World Cup or the NBA Finals was a whole lot more affordable way back then. So I guess the only question is, what is more expensive a ticket to the World Cup or a ticket to the NBA Finals? Our guy Paul Reidy has the answer

USMNT

USMNT legends: These are the U.S. soccer players with the most World Cup appearances

Top USMNT World Cup performers 

When it comes to a list of the best US soccer players in the World Cup, look no further than Landon Donovan. He has the most goals with 5 in the World Cup. Clint Dempsey and Bert Patenaude scored four goals in the World Cup While Brian McBride had three in his time spent with the US in the World Cup. Donovan made 12 appearance in the World Cup, while DeMarcus Beasley had 11, which was tied with Cobi Jones and Earnie Stewart. For more on the history of USMNT legends in the World Cup, here's a bit more. 

Paraguay booed

The flag presentation is happening on the pitch of the Los Angeles Stadium. When Paraguay was announced they got a proper boo, which is to be expected on an evening like tonight. 

Countdown to final is on 

This is just Day 2 of about 40 days of World Cup action and it's way too early to be thinking about the final. However it is nice to take a look at the future and get our plans sorted out for the World Cup final coming up in the middle of July. Which teams will be there? Who knows? But we have a date and a location. The two finalist will meet from New York/New Jersey Stadium in a match that will determine the World Cup winner on the 19th of July. 

Tyla - again (sang SA national anthem)

If you didn't get enough Tyla yesterday at the Estadio Azteca then fear not: the South African singer is back again, this time performing as part of the opening ceremony cast.

The rendition of the South African national anthem in Mexico was spine-tingling, and we’re lucky enough to get to see her once more!

The 24-year-old singer hails from Edenvale, South Africa, and her song “Water” became the first song by a South African solo artist to reach the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years. 

She also became the youngest African artist to win a Grammy, and also boasts three EMAs at MTV's Europe Music Awards, two BET Awards and two VMAs. 

The song of the World Cup - Dai Dai

Is it as good as Waka-Waka? No. Is it as good as Wavin' Flag? Get out of here. But it’s still got something to it, I have to say. While it doesn’t win gold in World Cup song history, it might just about sneak onto the podium for some. 

Performed by Shakira and Burna Boy, the song was written with help from everyone’s favourite Ipswich Town fan, Ed Sheeran. It even hit the number one spot in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Suriname.

Katy Perry - what songs

For those of you dying to know which hits Katy Perry will be performing, look no further. The singer will be showing off all of her biggest hits and even one we've never heard before.

“It's very fitting for the ceremonial song that I get to sing,” she explained of the mystery song while at the  Tribeca Festival premiere of her latest concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour — Live from Paris. “And it's not new. It's off of one of my records, and I'm very excited to perform it.”

World Cup

Gustavo Alfaro, the Paraguay coach who draws inspiration from Einstein, Aristotle...: “We succeed and fail less than we think”

Paraguay's philosopher

The best managers are always tactically brilliant, good at managing people, excel at leading a group of players and usually they are pretty good in front of the cameras. Gustavo Alfaro has been around the block before, and he has made a headline or two in his long career as a manager. The Argentine has spent the last three and a half decades as a manger at the club and country level. He took Ecuador to the World Cup in 2022 and now he is back with Paraguay looking to make some noise in Group D before making some noise in the press rooms after the game. 

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony is coming up before the players take the field and we have you covered with some brilliant insight from our main man and pop culture know it all, Joe Brennan. 

Red card crazy?

To say the 2026 World Cup got off to an interesting start would be an understatement. The game between Mexico and South Africa was fascinating. An early mistake from the Bufana Bufana allowed the home side to take a 1-0 lead before the 10th minute. Then it took a red card for South Africa's last man back in the second half to really change the game around. A second South Africa red card would give Mexico a two man advantage until their captain Cesar Montes was shown a red card right before the end of the 90. Three red cards were handed out in the first match of the World Cup. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there were four handed out all tournament. 

USMNT

Where do the USMNT land on the oddsmakers board? Why US fans should believe in this team 

USMNT's reason to believe 

The US comes into this competition knowing that winning the Cup is going to be hard, if not impossible. They have stated that they are here to win it, which is what they are supposed to say. While the odds certainly don’t seem to be in their favor, there is reason to hold on to hope. Just as recently as this year’s NFL season there was a massive preseason underdog that went on to win the Super Bowl. Here’s a little more on why you might just have reason to believe. 

World Cup

32 years later: revisiting the Opening Ceremony of World Cup USA 1994

A blast from the past 

It has been 32 years since the World Cup was played on US soil. Tonight marks the return of the World Cup on US soil and things have certainly changed since then. The tournament is bigger and more popular than ever. The sport is massive in this country, which wasn't really the case three decades ago. The players are better than they have ever been and the opening ceremony is certainly different. Here’s our Cal Roche with everything you need to now about the opening ceremony way back when. 

Weather no problem today  

We have already seen weather be a factor in the pre World Cup tune ups. The England-Costa Rica game was delayed for an hour as Orlando was inundated with torrential rain a few hours before kick off. It's usually the lightening that poses the most threat to delay a game. Luckily here at Los Angeles Stadium we have a dome over the pitch so there will be no risk of a weather delay here from LA. 

Pochettino already planning exit? 

Even before the the World Cup started, or the squad was even named, there was already speculation about Mauricio Pochettino's future. After stints at Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea he came to the USMNT in 2024 with hopes of leading this side to a never seen before World Cup campaign which will be co-hosted on home soil. What’s to come after the World Cup? That seems to be very much in the air, but there are rumors that AC Milan are lining up a bid for the currently US manager, and no one is really denying those reports. In soccer this is normal that clubs get in contact with players and managers who are currently working with another club or team. While many US fans were puzzled by the timing, it’s actually quite standard in this sport. 

World Cup 2026

Injury doubt Chris Richards feeling “really good” ahead of USMNT opener

Chris Richards update

One of the top defenders on this USMNT squad is Chris Richards but we haven't seen him in the US kit in quite a while. The Crystal Palace center back was hurt in the penultimate match of the Premier League and had to sat out the final weekend of the league and the final of the Conference League. The last time we saw him in the red, white and blue was back in early April when the US lost 2-0 to Portugal. He says he is ready to put it all on the line for his country during this World Cup. Let’s see if that means he will be ready today, and if he will be included in Poch’s first XI of the World Cup. 

Who are the early favorites 

Just because a team is at the top of the FIFA Rankings doesn't mean they are considered to be the favorites in the eyes of the odds makers. Spain take the top spot according to the betting markets, but it’s a narrow margin between their chances and Frances chances to win it all. Portugal have a fantastic squad and they are third on the list while England sneak in a spot above Argentina as the fifth favorite. This means very little with so much to play for over the next month and some change, but you wouldn’t be surprised to see those teams all make deep runs into the tournament and be contending for the Cup come mid July. 

FIFA World Rankings 

Taking a look at the latest edition of FIFA Rankings before the start of the World Cup we see a top five full of heavy hitters. Reigning champs, Argentina, are still top of the list with Spain right behind and last World Cup’s runners up France in third. England and Portugal round out the top five. You have to go all the way down to the 17th spot to find the USMNT. They are four spots below Mexico, and right behind Senegal and Uruguay. Paraguay on the other hand is ranked 40th despite winning three of their last four matches.

WORLD CUP 2026

FIFA announces major rules changes for the 2026 World Cup: Here’s what’s new

New rules, who dis?

It's not just the new format that has given this World Cup a different flavor. The three hosts is obviously new, and more teams and more games are great but that doesn’t really have to do with the game play from the first minute to the 90th. There are however a couple of rule changes that you should have in mind for this edition of the World Cup. With all the updated rule changes here is Andy Hall to break down everything you need to know and need to keep an eye out for. 

The marathon has begun

I hope you're ready and you have cleared all your plans for the summer. Once the actions starts it is barely going to stop. From today to the final on July 19th there will be just five days with no soccer. That's 39 days and 34 of them will have something for us to watch. The group stages will run all the way to the the 28th of June. Just because the end of group stages arrives doesn’t mean we get a break. The round of 32 rolls on until the 3rd of July. And that is followed by the Round of 16 which starts on the 4th of July. Our first day with no soccer will be almost four weeks from now when the Round of 16 ends on July 7th. The quarterfinals will run from the 9th to the 11th meaning we will be without soccer for the 12th and 13th before the semis are played on the 14th and 15th. The 16th and 17th of July will get us time to get rested and prepare for the third placed game on the 18th and then the final on the 19th. There you have it. If you didn’t believe me, there’s your proof of just five days off in the next 39 days. 

USMNT's World Cup resume 

Belive it or not the US has actually been close to winning the World Cup. It came in the first ever edition of the World Cup before this tournament had the reputation that it has nowadays. Their 3rd placed finish in 1930 is far and wide the best outing ever in this tournament, although all they had to do was get through to the three team group stage to get to the semifinals. They went to the World Cup in 1934 and again in 1950 but then had a 40 year wait until the returned in 1990. In 1994 they hosted the tournament losing to Brazil 1-0 in the Round of 16 and in 2002 they got to the quarterfinals. That is the farthest they have been since 1930. They missed the 2018 edition of the World Cup and lost to the Netherlands in Qatar last World Cup, but they are at home and looking to make history this summer. 

Paraguay squad

Paraguay are back in the World Cup for the first time in a while, and they are in a group that they will believe they can get out of and qualify for the next stage of the tournament. It's going to be up to the 26 players that Gustavo Alfaro has picked for this World Cup campaign. Here is the list of Paraguay players. 

Goalkeepers

Roberto Junior Fernández (Cerro Porteño)

Gastón Olveira (Olimpia)

Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo de Almagro)

Defenders

Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras)

Omar Alderete (Getafe / Sunderland)

Fabián Balbuena (Dinamo Moscú)

Junior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro)

Juan José Cáceres (Lanús)

Gustavo Velázquez (Newell’s / Cerro Porteño)

José María Canale (Lanús)

Alexandro Maidana (Talleres)

Midfielders

Diego Gómez (Inter Miami)

Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Damián Bobadilla (São Paulo)

Braian Ojeda (Real Salt Lake)

Matías Galarza (Talleres)

Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Al-Ain)

Maurício Magalhães Prado (Palmeiras)

Forwards

Julio Enciso (Brighton)

Miguel Almirón (Newcastle)

Ramón Sosa (Nottingham Forest / Palmeiras)

Álex Arce (LDU Quito)

Antonio Sanabria (Torino)

Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente)

Isidro Pitta (Cuiabá)

Gustavo Caballero (Nacional)

Last match: Paraguay

Right before entering World Cup mode, Paraguay gave their most convincing performance in the last few years when they beat Nicaragua by a score of 4-0. In their final tune up before tonight'a game, they put in a complete performance, scoring two goals in the first half with what we could only imagine would be their starting XI or at least a good majority of them. Kaku started things off with a penalty in the 17th minute, and then Miguel Almiron doubled the lead in the 42nd minute. A mass of subs out of the break didn’t keep Paraguay from adding to the lead. Matias Galarza scored the 3-0 in the 62nd and then five minutes later Alexandro Maidana scored the fourth and final goal. 

VENUES/Los Angeles Stadium 

Los Angeles Stadium is just one of the 16 venues that will be hosting World Cup matches in the US and around Canada and Mexico. There are eleven cities and stadiums that will host World Cup matches in the US, three in Mexico and two in Canada. For branding purposes, each of the stadiums have been stripped of their name. Sofi Stadium is no longer SoFi Stadium, it's Los Angeles Stadium just like Estadio Azteca was named Estadio Ciudad de Mexico for the opener between El Tri and South Africa. 

Mexico: 

Mexico City 

Guadalajara 

Monterrey

USA: 

NY/NJ

Dallas 

LA 

Kansas City

San Francisco 

Houston 

Philadelphia

Atlanta 

Seattle 

Miami 

Boston

We are live from Inglewood 

Hello everyone and welcome to Los Angeles Stadium where the USMNT will be played their first World Cup match on home soil since 1994. Things are different now then they were 32 years ago. The US side from the 90s didn't have any expectations to make a deep run into the tournament. This team does. With a world class manger and a squad full of players who play in the top leagues in the world, they need to put on a show in their home country, and that starts tonight against Paraguay.