World Cup Group D opens at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood with USA and Paraguay both arriving on zero across the board, which gives this Round 1 meeting a clean but tense edge. USA under Mauricio Pochettino will want the first marker of the campaign in front of a home crowd, while Paraguay, coached by Gustavo Alfaro, can use the same blank slate to frame the contest as an early statement rather than a chase. For fans in Cape Verde, the timing is simple too: Saturday 13 June, 00:00 -01, with coverage available on RTC and Sport TV (PT feed). That combination of kickoff and access should make this one easy to follow from the islands.
The table context adds a quiet layer of pressure to Paraguay, who sit 2nd, with Australia above them and a gap of 0 points between the two sides. That leaves little room for hesitation even before the first whistle, because any opening-round slip can alter how the group is read from day one. USA are listed 4th, so this is also a chance for Pochettino's side to climb quickly and avoid early ground being lost to a rival that already carries the psychological advantage of a higher league position. In a compact group setting, those details matter because the standings can shift fast from a single match.
What both teams will be trying to establish
What stands out most is how little recent output can be used to separate them from the raw team totals: USA have 0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses, with 0 goals for and 0 against, while Paraguay arrive with the same untouched record. That symmetry makes coaching choices even more important. Mauricio Pochettino will be looking for control and an early rhythm at SoFi Stadium, and Gustavo Alfaro will be aiming to make Paraguay compact enough to handle the opening phase without giving away initiative. When both sides begin at 0 points and 0 goal difference, the match becomes less about protecting a lead and more about setting a tone that can carry through the rest of World Cup Group D.
- USA, under Mauricio Pochettino, enter the opening round with a blank record and the incentive to turn home advantage at SoFi Stadium into something tangible.
- Paraguay, coached by Gustavo Alfaro, bring a 2nd-place position and a 0-point gap to Australia, which makes the first result in World Cup Group D feel immediately important.
- Both teams show the same clean start in the table, with no wins, draws or losses yet recorded and no goals scored or conceded.
- For Cape Verde viewers, the decisive details are practical as well as sporting: Saturday 13 June, 00:00 -01 on RTC and Sport TV (PT feed).
There is also a simple reason this fixture will draw attention well beyond Inglewood: it is one of those Round 1 matches where every small detail can shape the narrative of the group. USA, in 4th, will want to use the venue and the occasion to gain traction immediately, while Paraguay's 2nd-place standing means they come in with a status that can be defended only by turning that position into a result. Because Australia sit 0 points clear of Paraguay, the balance at the top is already fragile. Cape Verde fans watching live will be able to treat the match as an early read on how the group might settle.
Prediction (opinion)
Our call: USA 1-0 Paraguay. USA's home setting at SoFi Stadium and Paraguay's need to protect a 2nd-place edge over Australia suggest a tight opening, with both teams starting from 0 points and 0 goal difference.
The first game in World Cup Group D should set the tone for both coaches, and the result will matter immediately because the standings already leave no cushion between Paraguay and Australia. Fans in Cape Verde can expect an early measure of where the group is heading, even before the wider round unfolds.
