U.S. Men's Soccer Team Kicks Off 2026 World Cup Against Paraguay
Quick Look
The U.S. men's national soccer team begins its 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay, seeking to overcome a legacy of inferiority in international soccer with its most talented generation of players yet.
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Why It Matters
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time the U.S. hosts the tournament in over 30 years, with the U.S. team seeking to improve its international soccer legacy.
The U.S. men's national soccer team begins its 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay, seeking to overcome a legacy of inferiority in international soccer with its most talented generation of players yet.
The team's first challenge is Friday's game against Paraguay, currently No. 40 in FIFA's international rankings. The two teams faced off in an international friendly last November, which the U.S. won 2-1 after a scuffle between players broke out during stoppage time.
"We know that they're gonna be super, super aggressive, so we're going to have to match that. We saw that the last time we played them," said U.S. forward Tim Weah.
Paraguay may have to play without its biggest talent, the 22-year-old midfielder Julio Enciso, who was stretchered off the field in the first half of his team's final warm-up match last week.
After Friday's match, the U.S. will play Australia next week, then wrap up the group stage with a June 25 game against Turkey.
What to Watch
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U.S. to win or draw against Paraguay
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Open Questions
- Will the U.S. advance beyond the group stage?
