Background

Paraguay is a landlocked South American nation of approximately 7.5 million people, bordered by Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. Its capital is Asunción. One of only two landlocked countries in South America (along with Bolivia), Paraguay has historically relied on the Río de la Plata waterway system for trade. The national football team, La Albirroja (the red-and-white), are one of CONMEBOL's more competitive sides, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and finishing third at the 2011 Copa América.

Paraguay face the United States in the USMNT's World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 12 June 2026, the tournament's most commercially significant fixture, with the host nation's first match drawing the highest secondary-market demand. Before kickoff, the match became the centre of a labour dispute: UNITE HERE Local 11 held a 96% strike authorisation vote among roughly 2,000 SoFi Stadium hospitality workers, with bargaining resuming days before the match. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed federal authorities would assist with security but would not Conduct civil ICE enforcement at venues. Paraguay qualified through CONMEBOL's ten-team round-robin, where only the top four advance automatically. Turkey and Australia complete Group D alongside Paraguay and the USA. The opening ceremony preceding the match features Katy Perry, Future, Lisa of Blackpink, Anitta, Rema and Tyla in a 13-minute performance produced by Balich Wonder Studio. Paraguay's role as the host nation's opening opponent gives the fixture outsized narrative weight; a strong performance against the USMNT would immediately reshape the group's dynamics.

Paraguay produced one of the tournament's biggest upsets in the Round of 32, eliminating four-time world champions Germany on 1 July. Julio Enciso opened the scoring; the tie finished 1-1 after extra time and Paraguay won the penalty shoot-out 4-3, with Germany missing three of their spot-kicks . It was Paraguay's most significant World Cup knockout result since reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.