USA - Paraguay / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the USA vs. Paraguay match in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which can also be watched live on JOJ play, kicks off at 03:00.

Football fever is reaching a boiling point in the United States. The home team is set to open its twelfth appearance at the World Cup finals, and under the guidance of Argentine strategist Mauricio Pochettino, their goal is clear: at least to advance from the group stage, a feat the Americans achieved in 2010, 2014, and 2022.

The historical best of a quarter-final finish in 2002 hangs in the air as a huge motivation, as does the memory of 1994, when they crashed out in the round of 16 during their last home championship. However, right from the start, they face an exceptionally tough South American challenge. They will come up against the Paraguayan "concrete," known for its physical play, aggression, and deep defensive block.

Although the USA theoretically has the upper hand and boasts immense individual quality thanks to players from renowned European leagues, their pre-tournament form is a cause for concern. In the calendar year 2026, they have come up short in three of their four outings, even though these were against top-tier global opponents. After a wild 3-2 victory over Senegal, they suffered a setback in their final warm-up match, losing 2-1 to Germany.

The absolute key to the host nation's success will be Christian Pulisic. He was directly involved in all three of the USA's goals at the World Cup in Qatar four years ago (1 goal and 2 assists), and his form was further confirmed by his crucial involvement in the first two goals against Senegal. The home team's coaching staff is also closely monitoring the health status of injured players. The participation of Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson is questionable, but the return of center-back Chris Richards to full training after ankle problems is a positive boost.

Paraguay returns to football's most prestigious stage for the first time since 2010, when they reached a memorable quarter-final in South Africa. Gustavo Alfaro's squad secured their spot in the tournament from sixth place in the challenging CONMEBOL zone, earning the same number of points as giants like Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil.

Their playing identity is clearly defined: an impenetrable defense. In eighteen qualifying matches, they conceded only ten goals, which was the second-lowest figure in all of South America. However, the opposite situation was true in attack. An average of 0.78 goals scored per game was the weakest offensive output among all qualifying teams, a statistic they shared with Ecuador.

While the Paraguayans have won three of their last four matches, including a convincing 4-0 triumph over Nicaragua, their main strengths remain disrupting the opponent's play and deadly set-pieces. They scored 5 of their 14 qualifying goals from these situations.

Going forward, everything will hinge on the creative abilities of Miguel Almirón and the finishing of Tonny Sanabria, who was the team's top scorer with four goals. However, the absence of Julio Enciso, who is struggling with muscle problems, could be a significant loss, severely hampering Paraguay's transition play.