The U.S. men's team opens its World Cup against Paraguay : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup has returned to the U.S. for the first time in over 30 years, with the U.S. men's national soccer team opening its group-stage match against Paraguay in Inglewood, California.
- The tournament represents a major opportunity for U.S. Soccer to improve its international standing, as the current generation features key players active in top European leagues, including Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Christian Pulisic.
- Paraguay, ranked 40th by FIFA, is expected to play aggressively but may be weakened by the potential absence of star midfielder Julio Enciso due to injury.
- After facing Paraguay, the U.S. will compete against Australia and Turkey in the remaining group-stage matches, with hopes to advance further than in previous World Cups.