Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, soccer fans and soon-to-be soccer fans, the moment is finally here: THE 2026 WORLD CUP HAS ARRIVED! The tournament proper is kicking off tomorrow in Mexico City, where Mexico and South Africa will be competing in a rematch of the opening match of the 2010 World Cup. Siphiwe Tshabalala won’t be on the pitch this time — much to the delight of Mexico fans — but with the legendary Estadio Azteca playing host, this is sure to be a memorable opener nonetheless. 

But that’s not what we’ve gathered here to talk about, now is it? Whether you like it or not (I think you will), we’re going to walk through the World Cup together with red, white, and blue glasses on, as I’m all set to preview each of the USMNT’s matches this summer. The action starts this Friday, June 12, at 8:00 p.m. CT, so there’s no time like the present to give you all a little bit of context and a big ‘ol piece of my mind. 

History

We’ve got more history here than you might think, folks. This Friday’s match between the USA and Paraguay will be the tenth meeting between the nations, and the latest in a head-to-head history that goes all the way back to the very first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, way back in 1930. The US won that match 3-0 behind a Bertrand Patenaude hat trick on their way to a third-place finish in that inaugural World Cup. Fun fact, that was the first hat trick ever scored at a World Cup. U-S-A, baby. 

Since then, these sides have played in two Copa America matchups, as well as multiple friendlies. The most recent meeting came just last year, when the US earned a close 2-1 win over the visitors in Philadelphia. Now, with plenty of history spread across nearly an entire century, it’s time for these two nations to meet again on the sport’s biggest stage.

USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino’s team is coming into this tournament — and this match in particular — with a mixed bag of support and momentum. After the term “Golden Generation” started getting thrown around to describe the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, the pressure has only grown for this crop of players to take the Stars and Stripes to new heights. That’s easier said than done, though, and monikers assigned before they’re earned tend to have a way of creating tension between the nicknamed and the nicknamers.

Let me be clear; this is a very talented group of soccer players. That said, aside from getting opportunities at very young ages, there is literally no reason whatsoever to describe this as the USMNT’s “Golden Generation,” and I don’t think that’s a hot take. What have they done? Won a couple Nations League titles and put together a checkered Gold Cup history. Whether it’s fair or not, the pressure is on for this USMNT group, and it feels like there’s even more at stake than usual for a host nation. 

As far as the players go, look out for the aforementioned trio to lead the way in their own ways, with Pulisic standing out as the creative engine, McKennie adding next-level intuition and effort, and Adams providing a strong leader and defensive presence in front of the back line. I anticipate some rotation in other positions, but I’m excited to see what Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, and Ricardo Pepi can do up top, as all three strikers will likely receive opportunities to make their mark at some point in this summer’s tournament. 

Paraguay

You’re forgiven if you don’t already know a ton about Paraguay’s national team, but you’d better learn quickly. Though not one of South America’s traditional powerhouses, Paraguay has a history of producing technically gifted players that echo some of the same skillful, free-flowing traits that define so much of CONMEBOL’s distinct style. 

Their current roster has a good mix of experienced stars (Miguel Almíron), midfield engines (Andres Cubas and Diego Gómez), and world-class talents entering the prime of their career (Julio Enciso). It’s a well-rounded group with a range of experience, but with a core group playing their club ball in the Brazilian Seríe A, they will likely show us a cohesiveness that might be difficult for this eclectic USMNT roster to match. 

Speaking as an outsider looking in, the expectations for this Paraguay side are relatively low. After securing the last automatic qualification spot in CONMEBOL, Los Guarínes are in danger of falling in the “just happy to be here” category if they don’t find a way to get something positive in their opening match. Even a draw against the US would build some belief on top of their already defiant approach to the game, giving them a chance to advance to the knockouts. 

The Prediction

As the opening match for both of these teams, this was never going to be a regular game. Sure, these are professionals, but this is the World Cup; there will be nerves, there will be mistakes, and there will be a whole lot of passion over patience. Whichever team can best navigate their emotions will have the edge in this one, and while I do think the USA are the better team on paper, it’s very hard to say they’re the out-and-out favorites against a team with such resilience in their DNA. I’m going to throw my prediction on the same side as my support here and call it a 2-1 win for the Stars and Stripes, mirroring the last result between these two. 

Now that you’re semi-caught up on the stakes and state of this matchup, it’s time for logistics. Tune into the match this Friday, June 12, at 8:00 p.m. CT on FOX Sports, or better yet, get yourself a FREE ticket to watch the game at our Soccer Celebration on Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. Wherever you’re watching, be sure to wear your red, white, and blue, eat some apple pie, and generally ooze some positive American vibes to give the guys maximum support.