US battle Paraguay in pressure-packed World Cup opener

The United States begins its World Cup campaign under significant pressure Friday, hosting underdog Paraguay in a match where anything less than a victory could spark concerns about the co-hosts' tournament prospects. Ranked 17th globally, the U.S. is the highest-seeded team in Group D, facing Paraguay, which sits at 41st among the tournament's 48 participants.

The U.S. enters the match on a three-game winning streak against Paraguay, including a recent friendly victory. Historically, the U.S. also won their first-ever World Cup encounter in 1930. The atmosphere at Los Angeles Stadium is expected to be electric, with the home team eager to overcome early nerves by scoring quickly. Their formidable attack features stars like Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun.

However, defense remains a vulnerability for the U.S., with an inexperienced goalkeeper, Matt Freese, potentially facing a tough challenge. The team has managed only one clean sheet in their last 13 games, conceding 11 goals in their past four matches. This defensive fragility could be exploited by Paraguay.

Paraguay, in contrast, qualified through the demanding CONMEBOL section and returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Known for a physical backline, they aim to disrupt the U.S. attack. However, their offense struggles, having scored only 14 goals in 18 qualifying games. Their main forward, Julio Enciso, will miss the opener due to a thigh injury, placing more pressure on midfielder Diego Gomez to create scoring opportunities.

Former U.S. World Cup player Cobi Jones emphasized the importance of a strong start. "That's how you want to start off," Jones told Reuters. "It's not the be all and end all, but getting three points at the beginning really helps your chances and establishes you as the leaders of the group." Despite the expanded tournament format where only 16 of 48 teams are eliminated in the group stage, a win is seen as crucial for building confidence.

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That's how you want to start off. It's not the be all and end all, but getting three points at the beginning really helps your chances and establishes you as the leaders of the group.