World Cup 2026: United States faces Paraguay in Group D opener

The 2026 World Cup Group D kicks off Friday with a highly anticipated match between co-host United States and Paraguay. The game, scheduled for 10 p.m. Argentine time at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, will be broadcast live on DSports, Telefé, and TyC Sports, with online streaming available on Flow, DGO, and Telecentro Play, as well as Disney+ Premium and Paramount+.

Betting odds favor the United States as the home team, with a maximum payout of 2.0 for a win compared to 4.30 for a Paraguayan victory. A draw is set at 3.50. Notably, both teams are led by Argentine coaches: Mauricio Pochettino for the US and Gustavo Alfaro for Paraguay. They join a group of six national teams with Argentine managers in the tournament.

The US team, spearheaded by Christian Pulisic, aims for a strong debut on home soil, though they are not considered among the top favorites for the championship. Recent friendly matches saw them defeat Senegal 3-2 and lose to Germany 2-1. Paraguay, on the other hand, qualified for their first World Cup in 16 years, their last appearance being in 2010 where they reached the quarterfinals. However, they will be without their star player, Julio Enciso, who is sidelined with a muscle injury, though the team hopes he can return later in the tournament.

The match follows the third World Cup Opening Ceremony, which will feature performances by artists like Katy Perry, Future, and Anitta. FIFA has not released the full lineup, but it is expected to be a celebration of American culture. The opening round of Group D concludes with a match between Australia and Turkey on Sunday, June 14.