USA vs Paraguay Predictions

• The USA have conceded in all but one of their last 14 games
• Paraguay have conceded twice in four key away friendlies since qualifying
• Balogun scored in 11 of his final 14 club games this term

Hosts look too open ahead of opener

The road to the USA’s opening game at the 2026 World Cup has been a rocky one, and the tournament co-hosts don’t seem entirely ready for their clash with Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have lost three of their four games in 2026, and they’ve kept a single clean sheet across their previous 14 internationals.

The US have conceded in each of their last eight games, and that includes a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in November. The South American side return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, but there are limitations around this group.

Paraguay finished level on points with Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia in qualifying, but they were carried to a top-six finish by their home form.

La Albirroja have since met Japan, South Korea, the US, and Morocco in warm-up games outside Paraguay, and they’ve conceded twice in each.

However, Paraguay boast a set-piece threat which should trouble this disorganised US side. Pochettino’s group have conceded 11 goals across their four games this year, and they both scored and conceded in autumn clashes with Ecuador, Australia, and Uruguay.

Monaco forward Florian Balogun could make a key impact for the hosts after scoring 11 goals across his final 14 club games of the campaign. He finished with five goals in 10 Champions League games, and he struck in the USA’s opening two matches at the 2024 Copa America. Balogun has scored in four of his last nine internationals, and he’s good value to continue that record.