LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Men’s National Team has completed its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Paraguay, with the match scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The United States, as co-hosts of the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, face Paraguay in Group D in their first competitive match of the World Cup. The game is set to kick off at 6 p.m. local time in front of a capacity crowd.
U.S. Soccer officials said the team had focused on tactical drills, recovery sessions and opponent analysis in the lead-up to the opener. Paraguay, ranked 41st in the FIFA men’s world rankings, last appeared in the World Cup in 2010 and prepared with a series of international friendlies.
The U.S. squad includes several players with European club experience, aiming to leverage home advantage in the tournament’s opening phase. Details on the exact starting lineup remained subject to final confirmation closer to kickoff.
This will mark the U.S. team’s return to the World Cup group stage on home soil for the first time in decades. Paraguay defeated the U.S. in a November friendly but has not qualified for the tournament since 2010.
“Preparation has been thorough,” a U.S. Soccer representative said. “The team is focused on starting strong in front of our fans.”
Stadium officials reported strong ticket demand, with SoFi Stadium expected to host more than 70,000 spectators. Security and logistical arrangements were coordinated among local authorities, FIFA and U.S. Soccer.
The match forms part of Group D, which also includes Australia and Türkiye. Results from the opener will influence subsequent group standings, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage. Additional details on team selections and strategies were not immediately available.
Both teams arrived in the Los Angeles area in the days before the match, conducting final training sessions at local facilities. No major injuries were reported in the immediate pre-match period, according to available updates from team sources.
FIFA confirmed the fixture as part of the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 tournament. Broadcast coverage is available across multiple platforms in the United States and internationally.
As of June 15, post-match developments from the June 12 game were emerging, but preparations centered on delivering a competitive performance in the tournament debut for the co-hosts.
