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WORLD CUP 2026 · Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 02:00 BST
USA
4 – 1
Paraguay

Match preview

USA edge it on ratings AND form has been the better of the two over the last five.

53%
USA
20%
Draw
27%
Paraguay
Model fair odds
USA
1.89
Draw
5.00
Paraguay
3.70

Decimal fair odds from the model probabilities before bookmaker margin.

USA
53%
Draw
20%
Paraguay
27%
Elo rating: 1855 vs 1742 (+113)
Recent form: LWLWW vs LDDWL
Host advantage: Neutral venue
Model verdict: 53% / 20% / 27%
Most likely scores
USA 1–0 (13%)
Draw 1–1 (11%)
USA 2–0 (11%)
USA 2–1 (10%)
Why USA are favourites (53%)
  • USA carry the higher Elo rating (+113 points)
  • Neutral venue — no home advantage applied
  • USA won 3 of their last five (3W 2L)
  • Paraguay mixed recent form (1W 2D 2L)
  • Head-to-head treated as neutral — too few recent meetings to weigh (10% of the blend)

These factors combine to produce the 53% / 20% / 27% verdict above.

Expected match pattern

USA should shade possession but the gap is small enough that midfield control will decide territory. With little between the sides on ratings, a set piece or an individual moment is the most likely difference — expect a competitive game where the first goal heavily shapes what follows.

Expected goals: USA 1.7 · Paraguay 0.9

Quick stats

MetricUSAParaguay
Elo rating18551742
Last 5 record3W 2L1W 2D 2L
Goals last 5113
Goals conceded last 586
Clean sheets last 522

USA — last 5

  • Lv Belgium14
  • Wv Bosnia & Herzegovina20
  • L@ Türkiye23
  • Wv Australia20
  • Wv Paraguay41

Paraguay — last 5

  • Lv France01
  • D@ Germany11
  • Dv Australia00
  • W@ Türkiye10
  • L@ USA14

Head to head

No recent meetings on record between these sides.

Confirmed lineups

USA · 4-2-3-1
  1. 24M. Freese G
  2. 16A. Freeman D
  3. 3C. Richards D
  4. 13T. Ream D
  5. 5A. Robinson D
  6. 4T. Adams M
  7. 17M. Tillman M
  8. 2S. Dest M
  9. 8W. McKennie M
  10. 10C. Pulisic M
  11. 20F. Balogun F
Paraguay · 4-4-2
  1. 12O. Gill G
  2. 4J. Caceres D
  3. 15G. Gomez D
  4. 3O. Alderete D
  5. 6J. Alonso D
  6. 8D. Gomez M
  7. 14A. Cubas M
  8. 16D. Bobadilla M
  9. 10M. Almiron M
  10. 9A. Sanabria F
  11. 19J. Enciso F

Key matchups

F. Balogun vs G. Gomez

USA's focal point in attack against the heart of Paraguay's defence.

S. Dest vs A. Cubas

The central-midfield battle most likely to decide who controls possession and territory.

A. Sanabria vs C. Richards

Paraguay's main outlet — how USA's central defence handles him shapes the counter-attack threat.

Predictions are model output, not betting advice. The model blends an Elo rating, last-5 form and host advantage; ratings update after every tournament result, and fair odds and likely scorelines are derived from the same blend. Bet responsibly — 18+. See PuntHub for verified tipster services.