31' GOAL!!!! A total comeback moment for USA's Folarin Balogun, who was just denied a goal due to off side. This time, Christian Pulisic receives the ball and passes it on to Folarin, holds his nerves inside the box. Folarin then hammers it hard across Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill as the ball lands straight into the nets. What a moment in the game!

USA 2: 0 PAR

28' WHAT A BIG HEARTBREAK!!! USA's Folarin Balogun receives a terrific pass and then dribbles it past the Paraguay goalkeeper and comfortably lands the ball into the nets as USA take 2-0 lead. However, referee Danny Makkelie stops the game and check with VAR and declares it OFF SIDE. USA's attempt of making it 2-0 fails. 

24' USA's Christian Pulisic makes a terrific effort but fails to convert it into a goal. Pulisic swings in a cross from out wide trying to find a teammate in the box, but it doesn't connect with anyone and the chance is wasted. A very good defence from Paraguay. 

19' Oh No!! That looks serious. Paraguay's Omar Alderete picks up a nasty blow on his leg. The referee quickly stops the play and the team physio rushes onto the field. After a brief checkup, Omar is declared fit to play and the game continues. 

16' Sergino Dest of USA plays a good pass into the box, but a Paraguay defender blocks it. The ball goes out of play, and the USA get a corner kick. Antonee Robinson comes out to take the corner kick but his effort goes in vain as Paraguay react well to the attack. USA still leading 1-0. 

11' Paraguay defenders show brilliant alertness as they foil Folarin Balogun's plan of making it 2-0. Balogun receives the ball and then tries to send it directly into the goal. However, Paraguay defenders quickly dodge the threat by blocking his way. 

10' Paraguay's Juan Caceres shows some aggressiveness on field and ends up making a rough tackle. His moves are quickly noticed by referee Danny Makkelie, who wastes no times and shows him a yellow card. Interestingly, Juan Caceres also accepts his mistake and the game moves on. 

7' OWN GOAL!!!! What have you done, Damian Bobadilla? A tough tackle took place in the Paraguay box, where USA tried to snatch the ball and put into the nets. However, Paraguay's Bobadilla ended up helping them as he intervened in a pass and then himself kicked the ball, dodging his own goalkeeper. What a big blunder from Paraguay as USA got early lead. 

USA 1: 0 PAR

6' Paraguay are giving an equal competition to USA's attack. This time, Julio Enciso fires a pass into the box. However, the teammates fail to collect it on time as USA defenders show tremendous effort to stop the ball. 

1' Wow!!! USA have made an aggressive start as they are going directly for a score. Folarin Balogun receives a good pass from a teammate and attempts a direct hit. However, Paraguay goalkeeper Gill shows brilliant alertness and averts the coming danger. Terrific start to the game. 

The FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D match between USA and Paraguay finally begins. Co-hosts USA will be kick-starting the game. Referee Danny Makkelie blows the opening whistle as the game starts. The crowd at the stadium is excited to witness this high voltage clash. 

Players of both the teams are out on the field for their respective national anthems. The FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D match shall begin shortly. Stay tuned with us for all the live updates. 

And the big moment is here as Katy Perry enters the stage. She fetches a huge round of applause as the entire stage goes berserk. 

Meanwhile, some reports are saying that Tom Cruise and Owen Wilson have been spotted in the stadium. That makes it a starry affair!

US: L-W-L-L-W (Last five games, latest first)

Paraguay: W-L-W-W-L

Paraguay have won three of theirlast five game whereas US have won two. Paraguay beat Nicaragua in a warm-up last week. In March, they defeated Greece and stunned Mexico last November.

The US beat Senegal in a friendly but lost to Germany.

Today, it's time for Group D which has US, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. In this 48-team FIFA World CUp, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress to the Round of 32. That's not all, the eight best third-placed teams will also advance

For USA, there is one change for the hosts, with Chris Richards coming for Miles Robinson.

For Paraguay, Orlando Gill replaces Roberto Junior Fernandez in goal, while Damian Bobadilla comes in for Alejandro Romero. 

Equipo 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐨 ✔️

📋 Ellos son los elegidos por el DT Gustavo Alfaro para el debut en la máxima cita.

🆚 🇺🇸
🏆 @FIFAWorldCup 2026 - Grupo D
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕙 22:00 h
📺 @SomosGEN | @trecepy | @somospopupy | @Unicanal

¡Dale la #Albirroja ⚪🔴!… pic.twitter.com/AuLwohvvUv

— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) June 12, 2026

Your XI for Match #1 at the @FIFAWorldCup.#USMNT x The @HomeDepot pic.twitter.com/0LHLne0ibK

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 12, 2026

Accoridng to a report in Al Jazeera, the paraguay fans are being booed. The report adds that there are lot many empty seats in the stadium with confusion reigning supreme. "With many empty seats and a brief opening ceremony where it was difficult to discern what was happening or who was performing, it all feels somewhat lacklustre so far," the report said. 

"Even in the almost full area behind the goals, there are few loud chants - just sporadic screams of excitement and the occasional "USA, USA"."

Rema performing 'GOALS' along side with LISA & Anitta at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony. But where's Katy Perry?

Rema performing ‘GOALS’ along side with LISA & Anitta at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/dC9uwMPcq2

— REMA NEWS (@heisremanewss) June 13, 2026

REMA ,LISA & ANITTA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony ✨ pic.twitter.com/Cy7THSnrf9

— REMA 🦇 (@MrAlon127146) June 13, 2026

Just like in the Mexico and Canada leg, the USA leg of the opening ceremonies sees a giant World Cup trophy elevated in the centre of the pitch. Also, giant clothes are used showcase the letters L and A across the pitch.

Abd it starts! And there's a Hollywood touch. "Welcome to the USA, we are over 340 million fans," a voice announcers over a video of the Hollywood sign. "We are 430 languages. We are one nation founded on freedom."

The fans have started to enter the stadium and an announcement about diversity is made. The USA players are also making it to the ground currently. This is a historic occassion as the FIFA World CUp returns to the USA soil after 1994.

Ahead of the USA vs Paraguay Group D game, the USA leg of the FIFA WC opening ceremony will feature some global artists including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the artist lineup was chosen to reflect the cultural diversity and vibrant diasporas of the US.

According to some reports, American President Donald Trump will not be present in the ceremony. He would most likely be in Washington DC to attend walk-throughs of the weekend's UFC White HOuse event. Secretary of State Marco Rubio might attend the game.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in USA. This is third in the line of opening ceremonies in the FIFA World Cup, after Mexico and Canada!