Team USA World Cup Preview: Opening Match, Odds, & Group Outlook

The U.S. begins play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday night when the team faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Playing on home soil for the first time since hosting the 1994 tournament, the Americans enter the competition with high expectations and one of the most talented rosters in program history.

The U.S. was drawn into Group D alongside Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia. While the Americans are favored to advance to the knockout stage, a strong result in the opener could prove critical as the group schedule becomes increasingly difficult later in the tournament.

Key Facts: United States vs. Paraguay

• Date: Friday, June 12
• Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX, Telemundo
• Streaming: FOX Sports App, Peacock
• Estimated betting odds: United States -110, Paraguay +300, Draw +250
• Group: Group D

Key Players – United States

• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
• Weston McKennie (Juventus)
• Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)
• Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
• Folarin Balogun (Monaco)

Key Players – Paraguay

• Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United)
• Julio Enciso (Brighton)
• Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras)
• Ramón Sosa (Nottingham Forest)
• Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps)

The Americans enter as slight favorites but Paraguay has consistently proven difficult to break down defensively. Team USA will likely rely on Pulisic’s creativity and Balogun’s finishing ability to unlock the Paraguayan defense.

Remaining Group D Schedule

United States vs. Turkey

• June 18
• AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
• Estimated betting odds: United States +145, Turkey +185, Draw +230

Turkey may be the most dangerous opponent in the group. Led by a talented young core, the Turks are considered a legitimate dark-horse candidate to reach the knockout rounds.

United States vs. Australia

• June 24
• Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
• Estimated betting odds: United States -135, Australia +350, Draw +260

Australia enters the tournament after another strong qualifying campaign. The Socceroos are known for their physical style and could present a challenging matchup if qualification remains undecided.

Group D Outlook

The United States is currently viewed as the favorite to win Group D at sportsbooks like DraftKings and Hard Rock Bet, although the margin separating the top three teams remains relatively small.

Estimated Group Winner Odds

• United States: +125
• Turkey: +250
• Paraguay: +450
• Australia: +550

Advancing as group winner would likely provide the Americans with a more favorable Round of 32 matchup, making every group-stage point especially valuable.

Betting Outlook

Sportsbooks continue to view Team USA as one of the stronger non-European and non-South American teams in the field. While the Americans are not considered among the top-tier title contenders, they are viewed as a team capable of making a deep run if they can navigate the group stage successfully.

Estimated World Cup Winner Odds

• Spain: +500
• France: +550
• England: +650
• Brazil: +750
• Argentina: +850
• Portugal: +1200
• Germany: +1400
• Netherlands: +1800
• United States: +2800

The U.S. has attracted significant betting interest due to home-field advantage and a roster featuring players competing in many of Europe’s top leagues. Bettors will be watching closely to see if the Americans can deliver a convincing performance against Paraguay and establish momentum for the remainder of the tournament.

A victory on Friday would put Team USA in excellent position to reach the knockout rounds and potentially make its deepest World Cup run in more than two decades.