Pochettino Sends USMNT Into Paraguay Opener on Friday Night Usa Game

The usa game in Los Angeles is next for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The USMNT are preparing for their Group D opener against Paraguay on Friday night after warmup matches in Charlotte and at Soldier Field.

Pochettino and Paraguay in LA

The 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada is underway, and the USMNT arrive at their first Group D test after two warmup matches. Pochettino’s team now shifts from preparation to the opener against Paraguay on Friday night in LA.

That run through Charlotte and Soldier Field gave the group match-time before the first competitive game. For a tournament that starts moving quickly, the Paraguay match is the point where the schedule stops being about build-up and starts being about results.

Chicago Watch Parties Set

Chicago will host watch parties for every USA match listed in the schedule, with entry free. The June 12 match against Paraguay will be at Utopian Tailgate, giving local fans a place to gather for the opener even though the game is in Los Angeles.

The city’s next two listed gatherings are set for June 19 against Australia at Bub City and June 25 against Turkey at Joe’s on Weed. Alex Campbell and Alex Calabrese are part of the first of a series of special World Cup podcast episodes tied to the tournament buildup.

For supporters tracking the group from afar, the practical path is simple: show up free for the June 12 opener watch party, then circle the later dates if the team moves through the group. The schedule now has a fixed start, and the first result will tell the rest of the story.