USMNT Faces Paraguay in World Cup Group D Opener

The USMNT World Cup 2026 campaign opens June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. The United States enters Group D ranked 16th by FIFA, the highest-seeded nation of the four teams. Paraguay, ranked 40th by FIFA, Australia, and Turkey complete Group D.

What Stands Between the United States and a Deep World Cup Run

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32. The expanded format spans 12 groups of four teams each. The tournament opens June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico faces South Africa in the opening match. The USMNT plays all three group stage matches on American soil. The United States faces Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles and Australia on June 19 in Seattle. The Group D finale for the United States is June 25 against Turkey in Los Angeles.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino leads a United States roster built around European club talent. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan headlines the USMNT attack as the primary creator and scorer. Ricardo Pepi of PSV Eindhoven and Folarin Balogun of Monaco provide depth at forward. Weston McKennie of Juventus and Tyler Adams of Bournemouth anchor the central midfield. Gio Reyna of Borussia Mönchengladbach completes the core European contingent at attacking midfield.

Paraguay makes its ninth World Cup appearance and first since the 2010 tournament in South Africa, a 16-year absence. Paraguay forwards Julio Enciso and Miguel Almiron have played in the Premier League, giving Paraguay genuine top-flight caliber. Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0 in the UEFA playoff final on March 31, 2026 to earn a World Cup spot. Australia qualified through the Asian Football Confederation as one of the AFC’s automatic berths.

The United States missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup after losing a home qualifier to Trinidad and Tobago. The USMNT returned for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and reached the Round of 16. The Netherlands defeated the United States 3-1 in the Qatar 2022 Round of 16. Pochettino’s rebuilt USMNT now fields deeper European club experience than any previous United States World Cup squad.

The expanded 48-team format changes Group D stakes considerably. The top two teams in each group advance to the new Round of 32. A second-place finish in Group D still earns a knockout round berth for the United States. Paraguay’s 40th FIFA ranking makes the June 12 opener the United States’ strongest chance to open with a win. Paraguay reached the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, showing the South American side competes in knockout football.

The USMNT opens group play June 12 at 9 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. A win over Paraguay puts the United States in strong position to top Group D. The Australia match on June 19 in Seattle offers a second critical chance to clinch advancement. Turkey’s UEFA playoff pedigree makes the June 25 finale unpredictable if Group D remains unsettled.