World Cup 2026: United States faces Paraguay in opening Group D match

The United States and Paraguay are set to clash in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup Group D on Friday. The game, scheduled for 10 p.m. Argentina time at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, will be officiated by Dutch referee Danny Desmond Makkelie.

Fans can catch the action live on television through DSports, Telefé, and TyC Sports, with online streaming options available on Flow, DGO, and Telecentro Play, as well as Disney+ Premium and Paramount+. For real-time updates and statistics, canchallena.com will provide minute-by-minute coverage.

Both teams have been preparing with recent friendly matches. The United States, aiming for a strong debut as hosts, secured a 3-2 victory against Senegal and a 2-1 loss to Germany. Paraguay, coached by Gustavo Alfaro, enters the tournament after a 16-year absence from the World Cup, their last appearance being in 2010. They recently defeated Nicaragua 4-0 in their sole preparatory match.

Paraguay's coach, Gustavo Alfaro, expressed respect for the U.S. team, noting their mentality, aggressiveness, and competitiveness. He acknowledged their strong qualifying performance, including wins against Argentina and Brazil. A notable surprise for Paraguay is the potential starting role for Julio Enciso, who recovered remarkably quickly from a muscular injury sustained just a week prior, which had initially put his World Cup participation in doubt.

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I know their mentality, their aggressiveness, and their competitiveness very well. Paraguay showed in the qualifying phase for this World Cup how difficult it is to play against them and how well they did. They beat Argentina and Brazil. They have quality and a great coach in Gustavo Alfaro, whom I respect and admire greatly.