USA vs Paraguay: World Cup 2026 group match – Trump, schedule, lineups

Who : USA vs Paraguay What : FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match Where : SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California When : Friday, 6pm local time (01:00 GMT Saturday) How to follow : We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 22:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.

For the first time in more than three decades, the United States will play a football World Cup on home soil when the team hosts familiar foes Paraguay in their 2026 tournament opener.

With tens of thousands of fans cheering from the stands and millions watching at home, the pressure is on the US to live up to expectations.

Anything less than three points against their South American opponents could affect the US’s prospects, as they look to go further than the round of 16 finish from the home World Cup in 1994.

Before the action kicks off on the field at SoFi Stadium, the cameras will be searching for a VIP in the stands: US President Donald Trump.

While Paraguay’s president, Santiago Pena, announced that he would be travelling to LA for the match, Trump’s attendance at the first 2026 World Cup game on American soil is yet to be confirmed.

Usually, the president or head of state of the host nations attends the opening match of the tournament – and this World Cup, with 48 teams and 104 matches, is the biggest-ever in history.

Nicknamed “Captain America”, forward Christian Pulisic is the poster boy of the US team. With 33 goals in 88 appearances, he is a major attacking asset, possessing the valuable ability to both create and finish chances.