INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States opens its home World Cup on Friday night against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, the host nation's first World Cup match on home soil since it staged the tournament in 1994.
Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET in the Group D opener, with coach Mauricio Pochettino leading the Americans into a World Cup for the first time. Expectations are high for a talented roster built around captain Christian Pulisic, but the team arrives under a cloud of uncertainty: the U.S. has won just one of its last four pre-tournament friendlies, and questions linger over a defense that has been the side's biggest concern.
Pochettino has favored an aggressive, attacking setup, often deploying a three-back formation with wing-backs pushing high and a front three of Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Tim Weah. The forward line carries genuine form — Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright all posted strong club seasons in Europe — but the backline is thinner, with center-back Chris Richards having missed May friendlies through an ankle injury. Pochettino has also stopped short of firmly naming a starting goalkeeper, though Matt Freese has emerged as the likeliest choice.
Paraguay arrives as a different kind of test. Playing in its first World Cup since reaching the quarterfinals in 2010, La Albirroja has been rebuilt under coach Gustavo Alfaro into a disciplined, physical side that defends deep and strikes on the counter — losing just once in a long run of qualifiers while keeping a string of clean sheets. The two teams met in a friendly late last year, with the U.S. winning 2-1, though that American side was missing several first-choice players, including Pulisic, who are expected to feature on Friday.
For the U.S., a strong start matters. Group D also includes Australia and Türkiye, with the Americans widely seen as favorites to advance but facing little margin for a slow beginning before a raucous home crowd.
The match closes a busy second day of the 48-team tournament. Earlier Friday, fellow co-host Canada opens its campaign in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, chasing its first win in World Cup history after going winless in its previous appearances. The tournament, spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada, runs through the final on July 19 in New Jersey.
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