On Saturday, the United States men’s soccer team will face Paraguay in a friendly match at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. This event serves as preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The friendly will feature two Argentine coaches: Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S. and Gustavo Alfaro for Paraguay.
Team Updates and Injuries
The United States will be missing several key players due to recent injuries. Notably, midfielders Tyler Adams and Sean Zawadzki are unavailable. To fill this gap, Pochettino has called up Timmy Tillman from Los Angeles FC.
- Key Injuries for the U.S.:
– Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)
– Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
– Weston McKennie
– Antonnee Robinson
– Cristian Pulisic
The U.S. team recently played two friendlies in September, winning against Japan 2-0 but losing to South Korea by the same score. On the other hand, Paraguay is boosted by the return of forward Julio Enciso from Strasbourg, who had missed previous matches after knee surgery.
Paraguay’s Aspirations
The Paraguayan squad, known as La Albirroja, is looking to secure its first victory in recent friendly matches. They have drawn 2-2 with Japan and lost 0-2 to South Korea. Midfielder Matías Galarza expressed strong hopes for their performance at the World Cup, stating, “We are prepared to become champions.” This statement reflects Paraguay’s ambitious goal as they return to World Cup participation after their last appearance in 2010.
Match Details
- Matchup: United States vs. Paraguay
- Date: Saturday, [Insert date]
- Time: 5:00 PM local (10:00 PM GMT)
- Venue: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
Projected Lineups
| United States | Matt Freese; Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Sergiño Dest; Tanner Tessmann, Cristian Roldán, Brendan Aaronson, Aidan Morris; Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna |
|---|---|
| Paraguay | Roberto Fernández (Orlando Gil); Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso, Juan Cáceres; Andrés Cubas, Diego Gómez, Matías Galarza, Miguel Almirón; Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso |
The match will be crucial for both teams as they gear up for the World Cup. Fans eagerly anticipate the tactics brought by their respective coaches and the final roster adjustments made due to injuries.
