U.S. Beats Paraguay 4-1 to Open World Cup Fifa Campaign

The U.S. Men’s National Team opened its world cup fifa campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 13, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The result put the hosts on the right side of their first match while the tournament unfolds in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

SoFi Stadium Start

Tim Ream said the stakes sit well beyond one match. “You're playing for 330 million people. That's a big deal. There's added responsibility, added eyes. But at the same time, it's the ultimate goal, the ultimate honor,” he said. Ream also said, “I have no doubt that we could potentially win,” as the U.S. moved into the rest of Group D.

The win matters because the U.S. entered the event after reaching the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup and missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This is the first time in 32 years the United States has hosted the tournament, and the 2026 edition features 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days.

Group D Path

The U.S. will play at least three group-stage games in June, with the knockout stage beginning on June 28. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 32, along with the eight third-place teams with the most points.

If the U.S. finishes first in Group D, it will play on July 1 at 8 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. If it finishes second, it will play on July 3 at 2 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

MetLife Stadium Final

The round of 16 runs from July 4 to July 7, followed by the quarterfinals from July 9 to July 10 and the semifinals on July 14. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, so the U.S. now knows exactly how its opening win feeds into a compressed path through the bracket.