Paraguay have not qualified for a World Cup since 2010 — the same tournament at which they reached the quarter-finals, their best finish, before a single Óscar Cardozo penalty miss against Spain ended the run. That fifteen-year gap has encompassed several near-misses in CONMEBOL qualifying and a persistent sense that a nation with Paraguay’s football infrastructure should be doing this more regularly. They qualified this time, finally, and they arrive knowing exactly what it cost to get here.
The United States, as co-hosts, carry the specific weight of not simply participating but justifying the tournament’s presence in their country.
United States
The American squad assembled for this tournament is the most technically complete in the nation’s history. Christian Pulisic remains the focal point — his performances at club level demonstrated an ability to produce in high-stakes matches. Ricardo Pepi leads the line. Weston McKennie provides box-to-box energy; Yunus Musah has matured into a dominant presence in central areas. Tyler Adams, when fit, provides the defensive intelligence that allows the others to operate further forward. AT&T Stadium will be close to 90,000 and almost entirely domestic. That crowd is not a trivial factor.
Predicted lineup (4-3-3): Turner; Dest, Richards, Zimmermann, Robinson; McKennie, Adams, Musah; Weah, Pepi, Pulisic
Paraguay
Daniel Garnero’s Paraguay are built around a defensive identity and the quality of two or three individuals who can convert opportunity into goals. Miguel Almirón provides the technical quality linking midfield to attack — his ability to receive in tight areas and release quickly makes Paraguay dangerous in transitions. Julio Enciso is the player the market underestimates: still in his early twenties, he has demonstrated at Premier League level a capacity for producing goals under pressure. Paraguay’s defensive record in qualifying — fewer than a goal conceded per game across the final stage — reflects genuine tactical discipline.
Predicted lineup (4-4-2): Silva; Arzamendia, Gómez, Alderete, Coronel; Almirón, Villasanti, Cubas, Sanabria; Enciso, Giménez
Odds Comparison
| Sportsbook | USA | Draw | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet365 | 1.45 | 4.80 | 7.50 |
| Sports Interaction | 1.43 | 4.75 | 7.30 |
| Betway | 1.44 | 4.70 | 7.40 |
| Tonybet | 1.45 | 4.80 | 7.50 |
| Betovo | 1.42 | 4.65 | 7.20 |
| Market | Best Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 2.5 Goals | 1.90 |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 2.00 |
| Both Teams to Score — Yes | 2.60 |
| Both Teams to Score — No | 1.52 |
Prediction
The United States win this. Paraguay will make it competitive — Almirón in form is a serious problem for any midfield that presses without coordination — but the USA’s finishing depth and home crowd are too much to contain across 90 minutes. Pulisic from a dead ball is the most likely source of the opener.
Prediction: USA 3-0 Paraguay. USA to win by 2 or more goals at approximately 2.50 is the best expression of the expected result.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.
Ryan Delacroix grew up between Bordeaux and Toronto, which left him fluent in two languages and loyal to neither country’s football team. He spent a decade writing for European sports dailies before moving to long-form work covering major tournaments. His pieces tend to start with a detail nobody else noticed and end with a quote that makes the analysis unnecessary. He has been at three World Cups. He still thinks the 2002 one was the strangest.
