PREVIEW: United States face first World Cup game with Paraguay for 96 years | OneFootball

Kasey Rees, World Cup correspondent & Oliver Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

The United States host Paraguay in their first meeting at the World Cup for almost a century to kick start their Group D campaign at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Stars and Stripes are the third and final co-hosts to get underway, following Mexico‘s 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Azteca Stadium and Canada’s clash with Bosnia at 20:00 (BST).

It will be the first time since 1990 that the two sides meet on the world stage, with their last clash ending in a 3-0 victory for the US in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Though initially disputed, Bert Patenaude – a member of the country’s Hall of Fame – is officially recognised by FIFA as having scored the first ever World Cup hat-trick in that game.

They finished third out of 13 teams – their best ever tournament 96 years ago – that year, which saw the 14th team Egypt miss their boat to the host nation thanks to a storm in the Mediterranean Sea.

America are hoping to make the most of their home advantage on a 12th appearance at the World Cup, after bypassing the qualification process due to their successful bid to co-host.

They arguably possess one of their best squads for some time, featuring AC Milan winger Cristian Pulisic, box-to-box midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, and Premier League defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards.

Robinson will enter the tie full on confidence, as the Fulham left-back scored a thunderous volley in their final friendly match before the start of the World Cup in their 2-1 defeat to contenders Germany.

They last hosted in 1994 and went as far as the round of 16, a feat that the US have only bested once when they reached the quarter finals in Japan 2002 and bowed out to Germany – who knockout out Paraguay in the previous round.

Maurico Pochettino’s side have won three of their last six matches in all competitions, with their last two friendlies ending in a 3-2 win against Senegal and a 2-1 loss against Germany.

But the US came out on top by two goals to one when the sides met for an international friendly last November and aim to secure a third victory over them when the two sides meet in the early hours of Saturday morning, UK time.

Paraguay had missed out on the last three FIFA World Cup tournaments, with their previous appearance coming at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, but will make their grand return after 16 years of waiting.

The South American side reached the quarter-final of that World Cup campaign before being knocked out 2-1 by eventual world champions Spain.

Gustavo Alfaro’s side qualified for this year’s finals after securing sixth place in the final round of CONMEBOL qualifying fixtures, finishing level on 28 points with South American heavyweights Brazil and Uruguay.

La Albirroja will be up against it as underdogs in terms of the US’ performance at the World Cup but also their record against them, having gone nine years without besting America in an international tournament.

Their last victory came in the Copa América back in 2007 when they emerged 3-1 winners courtesy of goals from Édgar Barreto, Óscar René, and Salvador Cabañas at the Estadio Agustín Tovar in Venezuela.

Paraguay possess several talents who could spoil the party in LA, including Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso, formerly of Brighton, and Miguel Almirón, who Premier League fans will remember for his pace and quick feet while at Newcastle.

But Enciso was taken off on a stretcher in tears and clutching his knee after a collision just 25 minutes in Paraguay’s 4-0 win over Honduras in their final warm-up game, and it’s unclear whether Alfaro will be able to give him his World Cup debut.

It could prove to be a cruel twist of fate for the 22-year-old after he dedicated his country’s qualification to his late grandfather who passed away in 2023, while he was still playing for the Seagulls in the Premier League.

He said: “Dear grandpa, I dedicate this to you in heaven with all my heart. I always remember when you pointed at me and told me that one day I would be there. I dedicate this to him. He’s surely watching me from heaven.”

Paraguay‘s long-awaited reunion with the United States will get underway at 02:00 (BST) and 09:00 (ET), with live coverage available on BBC One in the UK and both FOX and Telemundo for viewers over the pond.

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