U.S. opens 2026 World Cup against Paraguay in Los Angeles
What’s next: The Americans face Australia next week and Turkey on June 25 in a 48-team format that makes advancing easier.
The U.S. men’s national team opens its 2026 World Cup on Friday night against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the tournament’s return to American soil for the first time in more than three decades. The opener comes with heightened expectations for a U.S. squad led by Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie and stocked with players from top European leagues. Paraguay, ranked No. 40 by FIFA, could be without midfielder Julio Enciso after he was stretchered off in a warm-up match last week. The teams met in a November friendly that the U.S. won 2-1 after a stoppage-time scuffle.