Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup: United States vs Paraguay
Kickoff Time: 2026-6-13 9:00 (HKT)
Thirty-two years on, the United States are once again FIFA World Cup hosts. Led by renowned Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, the squad is at its prime age group, earning high expectations from across the football world. Pochettino mainly deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, while the team can also switch to a three-man defensive line at any time. He emphasizes high pressing, which demands strong running ability from forwards, and aims to implement sharp attacking transitions. As captain and the national team’s all-time top scorer, Christian Pulisic is the undisputed attacking talisman. In midfield, Weston McKennie of Juventus is a sharp threat with his advanced runs. Behind him, Tyler Adams acts as a solid defensive shield. The side also boasts talented players including Malik Tillman from Bayer Leverkusen and Giovanni Reyna of Borussia Mönchengladbach. This group of energetic, hard-running young players will be the driving force behind Pochettino’s bid to guide the team to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Paraguay were once a formidable force at the World Cup. However, struggles with squad regeneration led to a sharp decline in results, and the nation missed out on three consecutive World Cup tournaments. Now Paraguay have staged a remarkable comeback and qualified for the World Cup finals once more. The whole team is eager to honour past legends and carve out a new chapter. Under the guidance of experienced Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, the team does not stick to a fixed formation, adopting different setups for each match. Miguel Almiron stands out as the tactical linchpin. Capable of playing across multiple forward roles, he serves as a vital link connecting midfielders, full-backs and strikers. Besides Almiron, Julio Cesar Enciso, Diego Gómez and Mauricio are also key members of the side. Notably, while Paraguay feature fluid attacking play, their defence is extremely resilient. They conceded only 10 goals during the South American World Cup qualifying campaign, sharing second place with Argentina and finishing just behind Ecuador, reflecting their outstanding defensive solidity.
As hosts, the United States face no jet lag or long-distance travel throughout the tournament, allowing them to preserve fitness and match sharpness. Above all, the passionate home crowd will bring them a massive home advantage. All factors considered, the United States, blessed with favourable timing, venue and fan support, are firmly tipped to come out on top.
USA ‘s Last 5 Games: LWLLW
26-06-07 USA 1-2 Germany
26-06-01 USA 3-2 Senegal
26-04-01 USA 0-2 Portugal
26-03-29 USA 2-5 Belgium
25-11-19 USA 5-1 Uruguay
Paraguay ‘s Last 5 Games: WLWWL
26-06-06 Paraguay 4-0 Nicaragua
26-04-01 Morocco 2-1 Paraguay
26-03-28 Greece 0-1 Paraguay
25-11-19 Mexico 1-2 Paraguay
25-11-16 USA 2-1 Paraguay
Head-To-Head Record
25-11-16 USA 2-1 Paraguay
18-03-28 USA 1-0 Paraguay
16-06-12 USA 1-0 Paraguay
11-03-30 USA 0-1 Paraguay
07-07-03 USA 1-3 Paraguay
Prediction: USA to win