The third host nation to debut in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have opened their campaign in some serious style, with the United States thoroughly outplaying Paraguay to the tune of 4-1. The US were 3-0 up at half time, and with some more luck and/or better finishing could have won by double. Paraguay on the other hand have a loss that they’ll need to move on quickly from, but with this World Cup draw it doesn’t rule them out yet of going further. They tried, the US were just red-hot today. Not quite the hottest country in the world today, but the hottest on this football field. This USA vs Paraguay 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Centre brings you the Match Summary, Stats, and Preview if you want to check how bad our predictions and pre-match stats were.
USA vs Paraguay Match Summary
Here are the bits and pieces and minutes that mattered during the game, to provide you with as much information as you need in one minute, or at least allow you to fast forward the SBS coverage.
Setting the scene.
The final home nation hits the field and very few host nations would be starting a campaign with so many that don’t really want them to win. Not that Paraguay are any more popular in general, just less un-popular than USA. One wonders with all that’s all that’s going on with US politics what the stick/carrot will be for the US players if they lose/win. The US anthem was quite huge and over-the-top as you’d expect and hope really. The intro to the Paraguay national anthem sounds like the theme music to the Monty Python Flying Circus show, so that gets our vote. Surely the US will be up for this. Surely. And don’t dare call them Shirley.
2nd Min – Paraguay have an early chance after pressuring the USA goal. The Paraguayan tries to score from an angle in single figures which is admirable optimism but he doesn’t score, although it did need a keeper tip away, so maybe it would have.
3rd Min – A second US attack is halted due to the offside flag, something many Americans will probably need help to understand, despite the comparable simplicity of soccer v NFL.
7th Min – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL
It’s an oooooooowwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal. Paraguay score the USA’s first goal of the World Cup. The goal is set up by some strong work from Christian Pulisic on the left edge of the penalty area dodging defenders then squaring the ball to the middle which ended up being the perfect pass to Paraguayan player tracking back to help in Damián Bobadilla who taps it in past his own keeper.
USA 1 PARAGUAY 0
9th Min – First Yellow Card of the game to Juan José Cáceres which sets up a nice spot outside the penalty area to the left of the goal. Nothing come out of it, but probably the first of many yellow cards. USA on top for now, which may lead to more Paraguayan yellow cards.
14th Min – Paraguay’s Julio Enciso has the first Paraguay shot in a while. Nothing remarkable about it missing badly to the left, except he played for Ipswich Town in the second half of their last Premier League team and was quite good. Well, maybe he was just good in the Ipswich side,. Well if Paraguay lose he’ll be used to it from Ipswich’s EPL stint.
17th Min – Two really good chances in a minute for the USA that should have led to at least one goal. But a mixture of underwhelming finishing and rugged Paraguayan defending keeps the score low for the moment.
24th Min – Time for an ad, I mean hydration break. USA are well on top, and Paraguay are doing as well to stop as the USA are underwhelming a little.
28th Min – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
But Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Offside again. The US player was plenty offside too in the lead up to the sharp attack that led to the original goal. Sadly their most clinical finishing so far.
31st Min – 28th Min – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
No taking this one away and scored by the USA. Â It was beautiful play. Through ball down the left wing, a perfect run and square ball into the middle of the penalty area, and the final strike from Folarin Balogun struck perfectly past the keeper. A goal that looked so slick and it may not end there given their domination.
USA 2 PARAGUAY 0
37th Min – There’s no let-up from the Americans here, as a header goes close from a corner, if it is on target it probably goes in, and they seem to be permanently in the attacking half. Paraguay are still hanging on, but probably won’t, as they’ll run out of puff soon you’d think.
43rd Min – USA go so close again. Attacking inside the box they have a short range shot on goal that is smothered by the Paraguayan defence. Only one side is winning this though.
45th Min – Five minutes of added time, and Paraguay will probably be hoping it comes quickly. They have been thoroughly outplayed by the USA here.
45th Min + 5 – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL
USA make it three goals in the first half, and this one is quality. A through ball from inside his own half from Malik Tillman finds a fast moving Folarin Balogun who receives the ball, jinks, avoids some Paraguayan defending and then blasts the ball into the top left corner that only the world’s best robot keeper would have got a mechanical finger to. Quality goal, big lead. Game over.
USA 3 PARAGUAY 0 – HALF TIME
47th Min – some early pushing and shoving and jersey grabbing between Paraguay’s Gustavo Gómez and USA’s Folarin Balogun, after which the Paraguayan looks really angry. Maybe he’s thinking of the scoreline. Hopefully we get some niggle in the second half in lieu of a close contest and the side we wanted to win aren’t.
50th Min – VAR has been called after a pretty ordinary Paraguay corner, and the referee is running over to the TV for footage of Miguel Almiron falling over. So in the World Cup’s first case of official mistaken identity (that caption shown on screen) the Paraguayan Almiron is booked for falling over, where the tackler was previously booked for “tackling” him too hard.
54th Min – Folarin Balogun falls to the ground just inside the box but the call for punishment is ignored by the referee. Balogun isn’t booked so it wasn’t a dive. Lord know the Premier League VAR would have found a penalty in it. Instead play goes on.
67th Min – Yes, we’re still awake, although it’s midday here in Australia and not quite used to watching high level football during daylight hours. It’s usually reserved for the most anti-social of times of the late night and/or early morning. USA are still on top by the way, but nothing meaningful in the way of chances. Paraguay can’t get into the game and will be lucky to score.
73rd Min – GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL
Paraguay are on the board with a nicely worked goal, starting with a big Route One kick from the keeper to the edge of the penalty area, which eventually finds it’s way to Julio Enciso who spies MaurĂcio to his left and the Paraguayan picks his spot and cooly slots the ball past the US keeper. Wouldn’t think a full comeback is on the cards, but why not dream about it.
USA 3 PARAGUAY 1
77th Min – A couple of really good chances for the USA to score a fourth go close but no cigar, and encouraging for their fans that they aren’t stopping at three. If they weren’t the USA they’d be a team worth following.
88th Min – USA waste another chance this time with Ricardo Pepi putting a nice flat cross well over the crossbar from too close to not put it on target. The US could seriously be 5-1 or 6-1 up based on chances.
90th Min – Seven minutes of added time to go. Seems a bit long, and a little unnecessary with this score line.
90th Min +7 – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL
The USA are passing the ball around the penalty area and with the last kick of the game Giovanni Reyna shoots with the outside of his right foot and it curves past the fully outstretched Paraguayan keeper for a wonderful goal.
A great performance and a comfortable win for the USA who are in the prime position to win this group.
USA 4 PARAGUAY 1
Â
Here’s as many stats as we could steal from other places just for you.
The USA get their chance to show off to the country as they open up their home 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign to nearly as much excitement as the Knicks. Paraguay return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, and one wonders if they will dare to raise the ire of a certain nearby President and get bombarded on social media. The pressure is on the US more than any other home side to start their campaign with a win. This 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D USA vs Paraguay Match Centre will provide an overview of the before and after with a Pre-Game Summary, Match Review and Post-Match stats.
USA vs Paraguay Preview
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner.
| United States | 54.1% | Paraguay | 45.9% |
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
USA has won the last three meetings with Paraguay, all by one goal.
USA has never lost to Paraguay in the USA, winning four and drawing two.
The only meeting between these sides at a World Cup occurred in the first World Cup in 1930 where USA won 3-0. USA are W2 L3 v South American teams overall at World Cups.
Paraguay finished sixth in South American qualifying, conceding 10 goals in 18 games, and scoring 14.
The last time the USA played in a home World Cup they won 2-1 over South American opposition (2-1). From memory that didn’t go down well for some Colombian players.
USA are unbeaten in their last three World Cup openers with a W1 D2 record including a draw v England.
Paraguay haven’t made a World Cup since 2010, but they did make the Quarter Finals that year.
Paraguay are W1 D1 L1 v CONCACAF opponents at World Cups.
MATCH PREDICTION
USA 0 PARAGUAY 1
