The US national team began their 2026 World Cup journey against Paraguay in their opening Group D match at SoFi stadium in Inglewood on saturday, 13/6, at 8h Hanoi time. This group also features Australia and Turkey. Following the US - Paraguay encounter, Australia is scheduled to play Turkey in Vancouver on 13/6. Under the 48-team World Cup format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. Additionally, third-placed teams retain a chance to progress based on their overall performance compared to other third-placed teams across different groups.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino and his squad are under significant pressure, with supporters hoping the team will achieve their most successful campaign in modern World Cup history. Positive news emerged before the match, as central defender Chris Richards returned to full training following an ankle injury and is now fit to play. Upfront, forward Folarin Balogun is anticipated to spearhead the attack, building on his strong showings in recent pre-tournament friendlies.

More than 5.500 fans attended the US national team's open training session in Irvine earlier this week, highlighting the fervent excitement surrounding the team's home World Cup journey.

Xuan Binh