IRVINE, Calif. — The U.S. Men’s National Team will kick off its World Cup journey on Friday, June 12 in Inglewood, Calif.
It is set to make its 2026 event debut in opposition to Paraguay, a South American nation it is aware of all too effectively.
The USMNT and Paraguay confronted off in Chester, Pa. in a world pleasant in November 2025. It was a serendipitous assembly: the 2 groups did not but know they’d be dealing with off on the World Cup stage.
The USMNT won that match 2-1 because of objectives from Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, however the “pleasant” was something however: the match was bodily from the opening minute and devolved right into a brawl by the point it was throughout.
What’s modified since then? What’s stayed the identical? And what does the USMNT must deal with upfront of its World Cup opener?
Win your duels, however hold your cool
Paraguay is an distinctive defensive facet, however that does not imply it sits again and parks the bus: it prefers to defend everywhere in the subject in a block-based system that depends on bodily superiority. If you wish to break down Paraguay, it’s important to break by means of Paraguay, and meaning holding your personal in opposition to a few of South America’s most bodily imposing gamers.
The USMNT did that final November, nevertheless it did get sucked into one or two fights alongside the best way. If it needs to higher its efficiency right here on the World Cup, it will need to win these bodily battles with out shedding its head.
“I really feel like for us, we matched the depth in opposition to Paraguay within the final match, and now it is ‘how can we be protagonists and strike first on this sport as effectively?'” stated USMNT defender Alex Freeman in coaching earlier than the match. “We all know that in these video games, heads can go free, and you may get out of your headspace and get silly yellow, crimson playing cards, and I believe that is what we wish to keep away from.
“How can we hold the depth but in addition hold our head down?”
Do not let Paraguay break on the wings
Paraguay’s defensive block system can lull opponents right into a false sense of safety, and that is precisely what Paraguay needs. If it may lure its opposition out of its personal half and into Paraguay’s, it may leverage its quick, younger runners on the flanks to create one-on-one conditions in opposition to the run of play. When Paraguay scored in opposition to the USMNT final November, that is precisely how it happened: attacker Alex Arce was in a position to break previous Gio Reyna and create house in entrance of the USMNT objective.
Loosen up — and play like a toddler
Coach Mauricio Pochettino is finished motivating his gamers for the World Cup. “I believe now they do not want an exterior motivation or inspirational speech,” he laughed in his pre-match information convention. And he had a degree: the pomp, circumstance and celebration of the USMNT’s residence opener ought to be greater than sufficient to get the workforce going.
As a substitute, Pochettino needs his gamers to take a deep breath. “Crucial is to not be disconnected together with your emotional relationship with the sport,” he stated. “We have been speaking about that.
“They should assume tomorrow and play like they’re a toddler — with no stress, with no duty. It’s to play, doing what they should do and what they know to do.”
The USMNT will kick off its 2026 World Cup on Friday, June 12 in opposition to Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif.
