The United States opens its 2026 World Cup campaign Friday against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with kickoff at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. Odds at the time of publication list the U.S. at +110 on the moneyline, a draw at +225 and Paraguay at +285. The spread shows the U.S. -0.5 even and Paraguay +0.5 at -140, while the total is 2.5 (over +145, under -180).
One recommended play is the U.S. to score more than 1.5 goals (+135). Liz Loza points to a pair of warmup friendlies — including a win in Charlotte and Antonee Robinson’s long-range goal in Chicago — as morale boosters, and notes the U.S. has reached at least two goals in 10 of 26 matches since Mauricio Pochettino became head coach. The Americans also beat Paraguay 2-1 in November, Loza wrote.
Loza’s second selection is the U.S. committing 13 or more fouls (+125). The previous home meeting with Paraguay ended with a bench‑clearing incident late in the match; the U.S. recorded 13 fouls in that game, well above its 9.25 fouls‑per‑match average. Given Paraguay’s physical approach and the stakes of an opening match, Loza projects a similarly chippy contest.
Victoria Matiash highlights the draw at +225 as a viable outcome. Matiash describes Paraguay under manager Gustavo Alfaro as disciplined and difficult to break down, saying La Albirroja are unlikely to both concede freely or open the game up. The market’s under‑2.5 goals price at -180, she notes, reflects expectations for a conservative, low‑scoring affair.
These selections and commentary come from Victoria Matiash and Liz Loza’s review of the available markets. Odds are listed as of the time of publication; for the most current lines, see DraftKings Sportsbook.
