The 2026 World Cup continues on Friday as the USMNT opens against Paraguay in Group D. The Americans join Mexico and Canada as co-hosts of the World Cup 2026, and expectations are high for Team USA as they are favored to win Group D, which includes Paraguay, Turkiye and Australia. Paraguay, meanwhile, have a strong chance to advance to the knockout round as they make their return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, a tournament they reached the quarterfinals in. 

Kickoff from Los Angeles Stadium is set for 9 p.m. ET. The latest USA vs. Paraguay odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the USMNT at +105 (risk $100 to win $105) on the 90-minute money line, with Paraguay at +300 and a draw at +210. The over/under for total goals is 2.5 (+148/-184). Before making any USA vs. Paraguay picks, check out the Paraguay vs. USMNT predictions from SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, the FA Cup, and much more. He’s been red-hot on his soccer betting picks in 2026, posting a 31-13-2 record and returning over $1,200 of profit on his Champions League picks. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Eimer has studied USA vs. Paraguay and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Paraguay vs. USMNT:

Top Paraguay vs. USMNT predictions

After examining USA vs. Paraguay from every angle, Eimer is leaning Under 2.5 total goals. The USMNT didn’t score more than one goal in any of their 2022 World Cup matches. While this roster appears to have more offensive upside, the first test is against a Paraguay squad that are solid on defense and could bunker down in hopes of making this a low-scoring matchup where they can steal at least a point against the favored Americans. 

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“Paraguay have their captain Gustavo Gomez holding down the defense with over 85 International matches under his belt,” Eimer told SportsLine. “Their manager Alfaro plays a very defensive style of football, and will cause trouble for all teams in Group D.” See Eimer’s best bet for USA vs. Paraguay at SportsLine. 

How to make USA vs. Paraguay picks

After studying this matchup from every angle, Eimer has locked in a plus-money best bet that you need to see. You can head to SportsLine to see what it is.

So what is the best bet for Paraguay vs. USMNT? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bet for USA vs. Paraguay, all from expert on an 31-13 roll on UCL picks, and find out.

It’s a stark contrast with the build-up in the United States, a host nation that’s barred Somalia’s African referee of the year despite accreditation and a valid visa, refused entry to fans and support staff from a host of nations, imposed short stay restrictions on Iran’s team, which will have to plane-hop between LA and new base camp Tiujana, while FIFA’s president counts the cash from both a bloated 48-team tournament and ticket prices that are out of this world.

Read moreSomali referee banned by US from World Cup to officiate European Super Cup, UEFA says

When is it too much? Each World Cup is a snapshot of its time: 1978 in junta-ruled Argentina, 1998 and France feting its black-blanc-beurre multiracial heroes, 2014 and the social unrest of post-commodities boom Brazil.

FRANCE 24’s François Picard had the privilege of covering the last time the World Cup was in the United States, in 1994: the highs and lows of Diego Maradona, Bulgaria’s shock upset of defending champions Germany and a very different America that hosted the final between Brazil and Italy. How will this one be remembered?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Andrew Hilliar.

The San Antonio Spurs’ historic collapse in Game 4 of the NBA Finals was capped by one final indignity. NBA star Victor Wembanyama was struck by an egg that appeared to be thrown by taunting Knicks fans as the Spurs made their way back to the team hotel.

Footage circulating on social media showed at least one egg being thrown in Wembanyama’s direction as security personnel escorted him into a New York City hotel. It’s the latest in a string of headline-grabbing incidents involving Knicks fans in recent days.

The aftermath of San Antonio’s Game 3 victory spilled beyond the arena, as social media videos seemingly showed Knicks fans physically confronting Spurs supporters. Some of those Spurs fans appeared to have their jerseys ripped off during the exchanges, prompting Wembanyama to condemn the behavior.

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New York Knicks fans celebrate in Times Square as they win Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, on June 10, 2026, in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“My thoughts of course [are] that we can’t forget it’s a game,” he said. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but [with] the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”

The NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year was not alone in that view, as ESPN host Mike Greenberg expressed similar sentiments after Game 4.

“If you’re throwing eggs at Victor Wembanyama and beating up people… threatening … or doing anything to people who are wearing Spurs jerseys, just know that you are a disgrace. You’re not disgracing this city, you’re disgracing yourself and everyone who knows you,” Greenberg, a New York native, said on Thursday’s edition of “Get Up.”

ESPN host Mike Greenberg is seen before Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals in Miami, Florida, on May 17, 2022. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

“And that should go without saying. We live in a world now where somehow things don’t go without saying anymore,” Greenberg continued. “You’re a disgrace and everyone around you who knows you.”

NUMEROUS KNICKS FANS ARRESTED, COP INJURED DURING GAME 2 NBA FINALS CELEBRATION NEAR MSG

A watch party in New York City turned violent after the Spurs’ 115-111 victory in Game 3.

Multiple brawls broke out near the watch party in Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan on Monday. The New York Police Department told Fox News Digital that 21 people were arrested — 13 for disorderly conduct and eight for assaulting officers, criminal possession of weapons and menacing. The 13 arrested for disorderly conduct were released.

New York Knicks fans celebrate winning Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in New York City on June 10, 2026. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

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This year marks the Knicks’ first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999, when they ultimately lost to the San Antonio Spurs. New York has not won an NBA title since 1973.

The 2026 NBA Finals shift back to San Antonio on Saturday for Game 5. If necessary, Game 6 will return to New York on Tuesday.

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As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Cal, which has played 894 games vs. regional foes, winning 422, losing 440, with 32 ties for a winning percentage of .490.

The Golden Bears have recorded the most wins (59), lost the most games (66), and played the most games (129) against Stanford.

Here is a breakdown of Cal’s records vs. the region’s teams.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on Thursday, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

The tournament, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is the biggest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams. It will run for almost six weeks before ending with the final in New Jersey on July 19.

FIFA expects the competition to generate a record $13 billion in revenue. However, the tournament has also faced criticism over expensive ticket prices and entry restrictions affecting some officials and supporters.

Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organisation of the tournament. He said ticket prices were fair despite complaints that some seats cost more than $30,000.

According to Infantino, FIFA also made a number of tickets available for as low as $60.

“Our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases,” Infantino said.

“Our average price which is below 500 dollars is again the lowest of the American sports on average.”

Infantino also addressed the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry into the United States and will no longer take part in the World Cup.

“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said.

“We don’t control everything… Sometimes it’s good to chill, relax, we work on everything, we try to solve everything.”

The FIFA president also described Iran’s participation in the tournament as a success despite ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.

“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup,” Infantino said.

“There are challenges, it’s not easy, but I don’t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances — which we could not influence — Iran could come and play.”

Infantino also praised US President Donald Trump for supporting the tournament.

“Without his engagement and involvement, I think it would have been, simple as that, impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States,” he said.

Trump confirmed that he plans to attend some matches during the tournament.

On the pitch, South Africa coach Hugo Broos admitted his team would have to cope with the atmosphere created by more than 85,000 Mexican fans at the Estadio Azteca.

“They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing. But we have to focus on our game. And if we can do that… then we can have a good game,” Broos said.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre is hoping to end his country’s poor record in opening World Cup matches, with Mexico yet to win any of their previous seven tournament openers.

“We have to break the statistic,” Aguirre said.

“It will be another source of motivation.”

South Korea and the Czech Republic will play the second match of the opening day in Guadalajara.

Among the favourites to win the trophy are Spain, France and England, while defending champions Argentina will once again look to veteran captain Lionel Messi to inspire another title challenge.

England completed their preparations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday. Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins were all on target in a match delayed by thunderstorms in Orlando.

Coach Thomas Tuchel was pleased with his team’s performance.

“Until now, it was more a feeling of a pre-season, like an overseas pre-season,” Tuchel said.

“I think we set the tone today.”

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: ICC)

New Delhi: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s jaw-dropping 776-run season in IPL 2026 has captured the attention of not just the Indian selectors, who have named him in the squads for the Ireland and England T20Is, but also former players. Sachin Tendulkar has repeatedly praised the teenager. Ex-South Africa seamer Dale Steyn was also stunned by the left-hander’s prolific scoring.A gung-ho Steyn believes Sooryavanshi has it in him to go even better than Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is different gravy, man,” he said when asked if any up-and-coming Proteas player could match the level of Sooryavanshi. “He’s better than most international players right now. He is a boy wonder, a treasure for India cricket,” he added during an interaction facilitated by SA20 in the lead-up to Season 5.“You think of guys like Sachin, you think of guys like Virat, and this kid is going to explode. He’s going to be bigger than both of them put together at the end of his career,” he continued.ALSO READ | At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t just scoring runs — he’s redefining battingYet, with Sooryavanshi potentially set to make his international debut and better Tendulkar’s 37-year-old record, the former seamer suggested that he be handled with caution.“I would caution how you manage him and how you look after him because with great responsibility comes great reward. But there’s a big threat there that you could lose him at some point if you don’t look after him well enough,” said Steyn, who played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Deccan Chargers and Gujarat Lions in the IPL.

Many bowlers tried, and failed, to get the better of Sooryavanshi over the course of the IPL season. The Rajasthan Royals opener blitzed to 776 runs from 16 matches at an average of 48.50 at a rate of 237.30. With 72 sixes, he broke Chris Gayle’s record for most maximums in an IPL season.So, how do you stop him? No better than Steyn — who took 699 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is — to answer that. The 42-year-old acknowledged he didn’t watch enough of Sooryavanshi to devise a game plan but found Kagiso Rabada’s strategy most suitable.“I think KG (Rabada) bowled well to him, where you test him up here,” he said while pointing to his brain. “You’ve got to test him up upstairs. He’s still young. He’s only 14, and if you can throw a little bit of fear factor into the game, cricket is a fear factor game. If you go into the game scared, if you’re fearing somebody, just fear bowling to them or fear facing them, it can make you do silly things. It can make your mind do silly things. So the short ball towards him is a good option,” explained Steyn.‘If it ain’t broke, why fix it?’

Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) players thank their fans the Orange Army during match 29 of the SA20 season 4 between Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) and MI Cape Town (MICT) held at St George’s Park. (Sportzpics)

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Steyn repeatedly advocated for the growth of fan culture during the SA20, where not just the teams but the fan culture has also improved during the previous four seasons.St George’s Park, home of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, is one of the most well-supported grounds, said Steyn. He also spoke highly of Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, all trying to outdo the other.With that in mind, he doesn’t think moving a game to India, for example, like the Big Bash League (BBL) is intending to, will be a wise move.“I would feel harsh to rob the South Africans of one game. The Indians have got the IPL. It’s the biggest competition. So for them to go and watch a Big Bash game, I’m sure they’ll go and watch it, but they’re spoiled with the IPL; they’ve got enough cricket.

Pretoria Capitals players celebrate during Match 28 of the SA20 Season 4 at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Sportzpics for SA20)

“To give them another game, while taking it away from the South Africans. When the support in South Africa has been so crucial, would be just shooting yourself in the foot.“Maybe what we should look at, in terms of the world, and I don’t know if it’s possible again, but how about the Champions League T20, where it was the best teams from around the world, and you play together in a short tournament. You can play that in India because the TV and the Indian support is crazy. That, I would say, is a more viable option going forward.“Maybe the Big Bash is suffering a slow death, and they’re just trying to rejuvenate the competition. I think the players will enjoy it, playing in Chennai. (But) I don’t think that would be an option for the SA20. I think it’s doing really well in South Africa and as there’s a saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”