The US Men’s National Team kicks off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This match marks the team’s first step in the tournament, where they automatically qualified as one of three co-host nations.

The game kicks off at 9pm ET and you can listen for free on iHeartRadio, which is airing live broadcasts of all 104 matches on a live station dedicated to the World Cup.

After an early exit from the 2024 Copa América, the US team comes into the World Cup under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino. His squad features several experienced players, including Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, who will lead the attack, and midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie who will provide crucial support. Defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards anchor a backline that includes Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie.

The team’s recent form has been mixed—after losing friendlies to Belgium and Portugal, they bounced back with a 3-2 win over Senegal and a competitive 2-1 loss to Germany. In their last meeting with Paraguay, the US edged out a 2-1 victory in a friendly held in Pennsylvania, giving fans a preview of what to expect in this high-stakes opener.

Paraguay, ranked 40th internationally by FIFA, is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, having secured their place by finishing sixth in the competitive CONMEBOL qualifiers. Their strong qualifying run earned them the final automatic spot from South America. Manager Gustavo Alfaro has transformed the team's fortunes since taking charge in 2024, losing just once in 12 qualifying matches after winning only one of six under the previous coach.

The South American team may be without its most creative player, 22-year-old midfielder Julio Enciso, who sustained a muscle injury during a friendly against Nicaragua. Enciso was stretchered off the field in the first half of Paraguay's final warm-up match last week.

Following the Paraguay match, the United States will face Australia next week before concluding group stage play against Turkey on Wednesday, June 25.

With both teams eager to make a statement, all eyes are on whether the US can secure three points on home soil or if Paraguay will upset the hosts in their return to the world stage.

You can follow the US Men's National Team and listen to Fox's coverage of all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 games LIVE and for FREE via iHeartRadio’s digital app and more than 100 broadcast stations nationwide! You can also get the latest news and updates with iHeartRadio's lineup of soccer-focused podcasts, including Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogert and Tab Ramos and The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green.

Mark Manuel

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