USA vs Paraguay: World Cup 2023 Opening Match

USA open their World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in Group D’s first round of fixtures. Both sides start level on points and goal difference, with progression to the Round of 32 the clear target from the outset.

There is no recent World Cup form to separate them this season, but past meetings offer a clue. USA have hosted Paraguay in each of the last three encounters and won all three. The most recent clash, a 2-1 win at Subaru Park in November 2025, followed 1-0 victories in 2018 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park and in the 2016 Copa America at Lincoln Financial Field. Across those games, USA scored four times and conceded just once, underlining a clear historical edge.

With both teams yet to play a competitive match in this World Cup cycle, defensive and attacking numbers are blank slates. Even so, the record shows USA have consistently found a way past Paraguay in competitive and friendly settings alike.

Verdict: form points to USA extending their dominance in this matchup and making a strong start to Group D.