USA vs Paraguay Predicted Lineups & Team News

The United States of America are the third and final 2026 World Cup host to kick off their campaign. They’ve been handed the most difficult group of all three host nations, and their opener in Los Angeles comes against a solid Paraguay side.

Which players will feature in the Group D opener? Let’s investigate with the team news, key players and Predicted Lineups ahead of USA vs Paraguay.

USA:

The USA are over four years removed from their last qualifying campaign, yet they’re ranked 16th in the world, which suggests this World Cup could be a real step forward.

However, the build-up hasn’t been ideal. Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to email the players who hadn’t made his squad for a home finals went down about as well as his spell at PSG.

As more casual soccer fans float towards the team on the eve of the tournament, those who have been following closely seem to have little optimism for Pochettino and his charges.

A difficult group draw hasn’t helped, as they meet Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey, an Australia side that got out of their group at the 2022 tournament, and a Paraguay team that conceded just 10 times in 18 games in South American qualifying.

Paraguay:

Paraguay reached the quarter-finals in their last World Cup appearance in 2010. Having lost to the eventual winners Spain at the height of their tiki-taka style, there’s an irony to the fact that they’ve returned thanks to the fashionable approach in 2026 - set-piece proficiency and defensive solidity.

Paraguay have the ability to pack the box from corners, although they also have some gifted options in forward areas. Former Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron will start on the wing, with Brighton’s Diego Gomez in midfield.

Manager Gustavo Alfaro expects their defensive structure to translate to the tournament, and that makes them difficult opposition for an anxious host nation.

USA vs Paraguay Key Players

Folarin Balogun (USA)

While Christian Pulisic is heralded as the poster boy of the USMNT, former Arsenal forward Balogun could change that perception this summer.

The striker had a quiet start to the season with Monaco, but he was fantastic in the final months of the 2025/26 campaign.

He scored 11 goals across his final 14 matches of the season, including a brace against PSG in the Champions League knockout rounds. He scored and assisted in a 3-1 win in Paris in Ligue 1 a month later, while his return of nine goals in 27 games for his country suggests he can impress at this level too.

Omar Alderete (Paraguay)

Sunderland defender Alderete forms an impressive defensive partnership with former AC Milan centre-half Gustavo Gomez, and the duo will be key to their success this summer.

Coming from a Sunderland side that also thrived with a safety-first approach in the Premier League, Alderete should be well-placed to impress this summer.

Alderete also has three goals for his national side, and only Dan Ballard averaged more shots from set-piece opportunities than Alderete for the Black Cats.

For all of our coverage and betting markets for the festival of football this summer, please check out our World Cup Odds over on betfred.com