LIVE UPDATES: U.S. Men's National Team leading Paraguay 2-0 in FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener
Follow along for live updates from Los Angeles Stadium as the USMNT opens its FIFA World Cup campaign
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Men’s National Team is set for its first FIFA World Cup match on home soil in over 30 years. The USMNT face Paraguay to open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. with kickoff slated for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The match is being broadcast on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish.
Follow along below for live updates from Los Angeles Stadium.
With only minutes remaining before halftime, it has been over 30 minutes since Paraguay last attempted a shot. The United States maintain 72% possession.
Chris Richards nodded the ball towards goal, and was just inches from finding his first FIFA World Cup goal, but the ball trickled just wide.
Just minutes after he had a goal called back, Folarin Balogun gathers a Christian Pulisic pass in the box, stays onside and smashes it home for his first FIFA World Cup goal. It’s United States 2, Paraguay 0.
PULISIC TO BALOGUN TO DOUBLE THE LEAD! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/IUvPu81kzl
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 13, 2026
Per Opta, Folarin Baolgun has scored his 10th goal for the USA. Four of those goals have been against CONMEBOL opponents, including two against Paraguay.
A nifty move from Weston McKennie saw the ball fall to the feet of Folarin Balogun who buried it beyond the Paraguay ‘keeper, though the goal was called back for offside.
Only one shot on target for either side, though the United States have controlled nearly 75% of the possession. The USMNT has 12 touches in the opponent’s box to Paraguay’s two thus far.
Captain Tim Ream—who just became the oldest USMNT player to make a FIFA World Cup appearance—has only four fewer passes (30) compared to Paraguay’s entire team (34).
The USMNT has had several chances in the Paraguay box, ultimately thwarted by La Albirroja’s backline. Defender Chris Richards took a knock to the head attempting to head the ball toward goal. He stepped off to the side for treatment before returning to action minutes later.
The United States have had 67% possession over the opening 15 minutes of this game.
It’s the third-fastest goal for the USMNT at a World Cup.
According to Opta, USA’s goal at 6:48 is the third fastest a host nation has scored in their first matchat the FIFA World Cup (France 0:35 in 1938, Germany 5:08 in 2006).
Christian Pulisic weaves his way through the Paraguay defense, sending the ball to Weston McKennie in the center of the box who forces the ball off Paraguay defender Damián Bobadilla and into the goal. It’s United States 1, Paraguay 0.
THE FIRST GOAL FOR THE #USMNT IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 pic.twitter.com/pvMAukJCou
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 13, 2026
Per Opta, USA has benefited from four own goals in the FIFA World Cup, tied with Germany and Italy for second most in competition history (France - 6).
Matt Freese slaps away a close-range Paraguay effort for his first World Cup save.
Seconds later, Tim Weah tallies the USMNT’s first shot of the match, forcing Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill to make an early save.
We are underway from Los Angeles Stadium in the USMNT’s 38th all-time FIFA World Cup match!
32 years in the making. pic.twitter.com/qkqoeqDFTQ
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 13, 2026
USA advanced from the group stage all five previous times they avoided defeat in their opening group stage game while they were eliminated in the group stage each of the four times they lost their opener.
This meeting between Argentinian managers Mauricio Pochettino and Gustavo Alfaro is the third time two managers from the same country meet in a FIFA World Cup match that doesn't feature that country (Colombia's Luis Fernando Suárez vs. Reinaldo Rueda in HON v ECU in 2014 and Argentina's Héctor Cúper vs. Juan Antonio Pizzi in EGY v KSA in 2018).
USA has named a player from each of the five major European leagues in a FIFA World Cup starting XI for the first time.
Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso returns to starting lineup following injury scare in Paraguay’s last outing.
Equipo 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐨 ✔️
— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) June 12, 2026
📋 Ellos son los elegidos por el DT Gustavo Alfaro para el debut en la máxima cita.
🆚 🇺🇸
🏆 @FIFAWorldCup 2026 - Grupo D
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕙 22:00 h
📺 @SomosGEN | @trecepy | @somospopupy | @Unicanal
¡Dale la #Albirroja ⚪🔴!… pic.twitter.com/AuLwohvvUv
Matt Freese in goal, Chris Richards returns, captain Tim Ream becomes the oldest USMNT player to make a FIFA World Cup appearance.
Today’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Paraguay: 24-Matt Freese, 2-Sergiño Dest, 3-Chris Richards 4-Tyler Adams, 5-Antonee Robinson, 8-Weston McKennie, 10-Christian Pulisic, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 16-Alex Freeman, 17-Malik Tillman, 20-Folarin Balogun
Substitutes: 1-Matt Turner, 25-Chris Brady, 6-Auston Trusty, 7-Gio Reyna, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Sebastian Berhalter, 15-Cristian Roldan, 18-Max Arfsten, 19-Haji Wright, 21-Tim Weah, 22-Mark McKenzie, 23-Joe Scally, 26-Alex Zendejas
Your XI for Match #1 at the @FIFAWorldCup.#USMNT x The @HomeDepot pic.twitter.com/0LHLne0ibK
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 12, 2026
All 26 players on the roster for the U.S. Men’s National Team will be available for the team’s group stage opener at FIFA World Cup 2026.
The news comes straight from head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose pre-match press conference was held at the site of the USA’s first fixture, Los Angeles Stadium.
Since taking over in September of 2024, Pochettino and the coaching staff have gone deep into the National Team player pool to identify and give opportunities to players seeking a coveted spot on the World Cup roster. In total, 62 players have earned a cap under Pochettino since October 2024. They came from 16 different leagues in 12 different countries. On the scoring front, 22 different players have contributed to the 42 goals scored under Pochettino, with Malik Tillman, Haji Wright and Folarin Balogun each tallying three goals during his tenure.
Thirteen players – half the roster – were part of the U.S. squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, tying the U.S. mark for the highest number of returnees between consecutive World Cups, first set between the 1994 and 1998 editions. The veterans of the Qatar tournament include all three goalscorers: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Haji Wright.
Eight players on the FIFA World Cup roster started all four matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Matt Turner and Tim Weah.
The USMNT maintains a 5W-2L-2D record against Paraguay in a series dating back to the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. In the United States’ second group stage match of the tournament, Bert Patenaude made history by scoring the first hat trick at the FIFA World Cup, lifting the USMNT to a 3-0 victory. The pair did not meet again until a scoreless draw in St. Louis, Mo. in 1997, later matching up again in a 2-2 draw in San Diego, Calif. The USA’s first loss against Paraguay came in the form of a 3-1 loss in Venezuela at the 2007 Copa América.
The USA is riding a three-match winning streak against Paraguay, most recently defeating the side in a fiery affair in Chester, Pa. on Nov. 16, 2025. Midfielder Gio Reyna and striker Folarin Balogun – two players on Mauricio Pochettino’s current roster – scored on either side of halftime amid a five-match unbeaten streak for the USMNT against World Cup-bound and top 40-ranked nations.
Paraguay is led by a youthful collection of talented midfielders: 22-year-old Julio Enciso of RC Strasbourg Alsace, 23-year-old Diego Gómez of Brighton & Hove Albion FC and 24-year-old Maurício of SE Palmeiras. During the 25/26 club campaign, the trio totaled a combined 26 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
Four players from Paraguay’s 26-man roster currently play in Major League Soccer (MLS): Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United FC), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City SC), and Matías Galarza (Atlanta United FC). Cubas currently plays alongside USMNT midfielder Sebastian Berhalter in Vancouver; the pair have shared the pitch 104 times across all competitions for the ‘Caps and won the Canadian Championship on three occasions (2022-24).
The match will be broadcast live on FOX with English commentary. Spanish commentary can be found on Telemundo and Peacock starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET.
Fans can stream USMNT vs. Paraguay on the FOX One app with English commentary and Telemundo and Peacock with Spanish commentary starting at 9 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET. The match will also be available for free on Tubi.
Spanish-language commentary can be found on Fútbol de Primera. Coverage of the United States vs. Paraguay will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET.