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The USMNT will open the 2026 World Cup on home soil tonight.
In their first Group D contest, they’ll face Paraguay.
The USMNT is fielding some of its most talented players in the team’s history this year and expectations for the squad are high. In the eight years since FIFA confirmed that the USA would be one of three host countries for the 2026 World Cup, building a team where most players would be in their prime by the time 2026 rolled around was a priority.
After a rough March window with two losses, the USMNT played two friendlies over the past two weeks with a starting lineup that looks similar to what will likely be seen tonight. In the first, the USMNT defeated Senegal, 3-2, but they fell to Germany, 2-1, a week later.
- What: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group stage
- When: June 12, 9 p.m. ET
- Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
- Channel: FOX
- Streaming:DIRECTV (try it free)
Paraguay is back in the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they recorded their best-ever result. After winning their group and defeating Japan in the Round of 16, they were knocked out by Spain in the quarterfinal round. The USMNT faced Paraguay in a friendly last November and won, 2-1.
The USMNT is a favorite in tonight’s matchup and a favorite to win Group D at large.
Here’s everything you need to know about the USMNT’s first match of the 2026 World Cup.
USMNT vs. Paraguay time
The USMNT vs. Paraguay match at the World Cup is scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. ET today, June 12.
USMNT vs. Paraguay channel
USMNT vs. Paraguay will air on both FOX and Telemundo (Spanish broadcast) in the United States.
How to watch USMNT vs. Paraguay for free
If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the World Cup for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX and FS1 as part of its 125+ channels.
More coverage on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Germany legend blames WAGs for shocking World Cup upset: ‘Free family day’
- Telemundo commentators’ call of Mexico’s World Cup goal vs. Ecuador goes viral
- Mexico snaps 40-year knockout drought to advance to World Cup round of 16
- USMNT gets reminder on how vital it is to have game plan for World Cup penalty shootout
Who is performing in the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony?
Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will perform in the third and final World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium.
It is scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kickoff.
USMNT World Cup schedule
Paraguay World Cup schedule
United States World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Matt Turner
- Matt Freese
- Chris Brady
Defenders:
- Sergiño Dest
- Chris Richards
- Antonee Robinson
- Auston Trusty
- Miles Robinson
- Tim Ream (captain)
- Alex Freeman
- Mark McKenzie
- Joe Scally
Midfielders:
- Tyler Adams
- Giovanni Reyna
- Weston McKennie
- Christian Pulisic
- Brenden Aaronson
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Cristian Roldan
- Malik Tillman
- Max Arfsten
Forwards:
- Ricardo Pepi
- Haji Wright
- Folarin Balogun
- Timothy Weah
- Alejandro Zendejas
Paraguay World Cup roster
Goalkeepers:
- Gatito Fernández
- Orlando Gil
- Gastón Olveira
Defenders:
- Gustavo Velásquez
- Omar Alderete
- Fabián Balbuena
- Júnior Alonso
- Juan Cásceres
- José Canale
- Gustavo Gómez
- Alexandro Maidana
Midfielders:
- Diego Gómez
- Mauricio
- Andrés Cubas
- Damián Bobadilla
- Alejandro Romero Gamarra
- Julio Enciso
- Braian Ojeda
- Matiás Galarza
Forwards:
- Ramón Sosa
- Antonio Sanabria
- Miguel Almirón
- Alex Arce
- Gabriel Ávalos
- Guastavo Caballero
- Isidro Pitta
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
