The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues on Friday, June 12, with the USA taking on Paraguay in Group D at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Kickoff is at 9:00 pm ET on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock.
This is the United States’ first World Cup match on home soil since 1994, and the stakes could not be higher for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Below we have our best USA vs Paraguay player props and same game parlay picks, with all odds from Lucky Rebel sportsbook.
For a broader look at where to place your bets, check out our guide on where to bet USA vs Paraguay for this World Cup opener.
USMNT vs Paraguay Match Details
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Kickoff: 9:00 pm ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup – Group D
TV: FOX (English), Telemundo / Peacock (Spanish)
The USA and Paraguay met in a November 2025 friendly, with the United States winning 2-1.
Paraguay last appeared at a World Cup in 2010, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Spain.
ESPN’s model gives the USMNT a 78% chance of advancing from Group D – making this opener as close to a must-win as it gets.
USA vs Paraguay Player Props Picks (Lucky Rebel Odds)
Player props offer the best value in this matchup. Here are our three top picks for Friday, June 12.
Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer
A lot of bettors will gravitate toward Christian Pulisic given his profile and captain’s armband, but the smarter play in the USA vs Paraguay player props market is on Folarin Balogun.
He is the confirmed starting center-forward under Pochettino and the focal point of the US attack going forward.
Balogun has been consistently flagged by major outlets as the primary American finishing threat in World Cup 2026 betting coverage.
He is the man in the box, and Paraguay’s defensive record in qualifying – just 10 goals conceded in 18 matches – suggests this will be a tight game where clinical finishing matters most.
Lucky Rebel prices Balogun at solid value in the anytime goalscorer market. He is the smart prop play here, not the obvious name.
Pick: Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
Christian Pulisic Goal or Assist
Pulisic starts on the left side of the front three and runs through virtually every US attacking sequence.
The captain is the most creative player on the pitch for the USMNT and has the vision to create and the ability to finish.
The US beat Senegal 3-2 in their penultimate warm-up, and Pulisic was central to that attacking output.
In USA vs Paraguay picks coverage across major outlets, he is listed as a key contributor in goal-or-assist markets.
Lucky Rebel’s goal or assist line on Pulisic represents strong value at his expected price.
Pick: Christian Pulisic Goal or Assist (Lucky Rebel)
Antonio Sanabria Anytime Goalscorer (Long Shot)
On the Paraguay side, Antonio Sanabria is the man to watch. The Cremonese striker is their primary center-forward and the main penalty-box threat for the underdogs.
Crucially, Julio Enciso – arguably Paraguay’s most dangerous attacker – is a doubt for this match after picking up a muscle injury in a pre-tournament friendly.
That makes Sanabria even more central to everything Paraguay do offensively.
He has the movement and finishing ability to punish a lapse in the US backline.
At the generous odds Lucky Rebel is offering, Sanabria makes a nice bonus leg if you are building a parlay and want to increase your potential payout.
Pick: Antonio Sanabria Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
USA vs Paraguay Same Game Parlay Picks
Here is our recommended same game parlay for USMNT vs Paraguay, with all legs available at Lucky Rebel.
For more analytical takes on this fixture, our AI predictions piece for USA vs Paraguay is worth a read alongside these picks.
Leg 1: USA to Win
The USMNT have just about every advantage going into this game. They are playing effectively at home in front of a massive American crowd at SoFi Stadium, with close to 70,000 fans expected to be heavily partisan.
Home advantage, squad depth, and tactical preparation all point one direction.
The US beat Paraguay 2-1 in a November 2025 friendly and won their penultimate warm-up 3-2 against Senegal.
Anything other than a USA win would be a genuine shock.
Lucky Rebel prices USA at favorable odds on the moneyline, making this the anchor leg of the parlay.
Leg 2: Under 2.5 Goals (-120)
World Cup opening round matches have historically been tight affairs, and this one sets up the same way.
Paraguay scored just 14 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers – they are a low-scoring, defensively organized side that will not open this game up.
Enciso’s injury compounds the problem for Paraguay going forward.
A controlled USA win without excessive goals is the most likely scenario here. Under 2.5 goals at -120 on Lucky Rebel is the logical parlay leg.
Leg 3: Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer
As outlined above, Balogun is the confirmed US starter and the primary finishing threat in this matchup.
He gives this parlay a strong foundation as the third leg while boosting the overall payout meaningfully.
Same Game Parlay: USA to Win + Under 2.5 Goals + Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
USMNT vs Paraguay Betting Preview
Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT come into this with serious motivation.
Playing their first World Cup game on home soil since 1994 carries enormous weight, and the expectation at SoFi Stadium will be electric.
The US beat Paraguay 2-1 last November, won a Senegal warm-up 3-2, and enter with no major injury concerns.
Paraguay are the underdogs but deserve respect. They qualified automatically through CONMEBOL – a brutal path – finishing sixth in the standings.
Miguel Almirón provides creative spark from midfield, and they are a disciplined, organized unit that does not give up many goals.
The Enciso injury is a real blow, though. Losing arguably their most dynamic attacker before the opening game hurts their upside significantly.
The Los Angeles setting is essentially a home game for the USMNT. World Cup 2026 betting markets reflect that reality.
SoFi’s crowd will generate pressure and energy that Paraguay have not prepared for in warm-ups.
The USA are the clear pick here, and the same tight-game framework we used for Mexico vs South Africa applies – expect a controlled, low-scoring USA win.
USMNT vs Paraguay Picks Summary
Here is a quick rundown of all our picks for today’s World Cup Group D opener, with odds from Lucky Rebel sportsbook:
- Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer – Top player prop pick, confirmed starter and primary US finishing threat
- Christian Pulisic Goal or Assist – Strong value from the captain in Lucky Rebel’s goal or assist market
- Antonio Sanabria Anytime Goalscorer – Best long-shot prop from the Paraguay side, especially with Enciso doubtful
- Same Game Parlay: USA to Win + Under 2.5 Goals + Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer – Full parlay at Lucky Rebel
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