The Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, hosts a significant international friendly as the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) faces Paraguay.1 This fixture is a critical part of the USMNT's preparation for co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering a final opportunity in the calendar year to test tactics and evaluate fringe players before the intensity of the World Cup preparation season ramps up.2
The USMNT, under coach Mauricio Pochettino, comes into the match seeking to build on a short but encouraging three-game unbeaten run against World Cup-qualified opponents (W2 D1).3 Despite the progress, the team is still searching for a consistent identity and will face pressure to deliver a convincing performance. The emotional connection of the venue—Subaru Park being the home of the Philadelphia Union, which nurtured many of the current generation's talents—adds an extra layer of significance.4
Paraguay, or La Albirroja, arrives in the US with confidence, having recently secured their return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 by claiming the final automatic qualification spot in the highly competitive CONMEBOL region.5 Their success was built on a rock-solid defense, conceding just 10 goals in 18 qualifiers.6 While their recent form (W1 D2 L2) has been shaky, their competitive edge is not in doubt. This fixture serves as a key warm-up for La Albirroja as they consolidate their team ahead of the finals.
The Tactical Approach: USMNT Rotation vs. Paraguayan Solidity
USMNT: Solving the Roster Puzzle
Coach Pochettino faces a heavily depleted squad, with a significant number of first-choice players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah all unavailable.7 This forces a massive opportunity for fringe players to step up and make a case for a 2026 roster spot.
Pochettino is expected to continue experimenting with a 3-4-3 formation, which has recently delivered better defensive results.8 The focus will be on the players who need to impress:
Gio Reyna: With Pulisic out, the spotlight is on Reyna to prove his creative spark and claim a starting attacking role.
Folarin Balogun / Ricardo Pepi: The center-forward position remains competitive, and both strikers will seek to be clinical against Paraguay's tight defense.
The Midfield: With Adams and McKennie missing, players like Cristian Roldan and Tanner Tessmann must establish control and shield the defense.
Paraguay: The Tight Defensive Unit
Paraguay will deploy a familiar, disciplined structure, likely a 4-2-3-1, prioritizing defensive shape and looking to frustrate the hosts. Their strength lies in their ability to make games tight and low-scoring.
The main attacking threat for La Albirroja will be familiar to US fans: Miguel Almirón, the MLS veteran, whose pace and dribbling on the wing can unlock defenses.10 The midfield, led by Andrés Cubas and Braian Ojeda, will focus on disrupting the USMNT's passing rhythm. Given their low-scoring nature in qualifiers (only 14 goals scored), Paraguay's best chances will come from quickly transitioning the ball to their attacking trio, or from set-pieces.
Head-to-Head History (H2H): A Closely Fought History
The all-time head-to-head record is closely contested, with most recent games being decided by a single goal.
| Competition | Total Matches | USMNT Wins | Paraguay Wins | Draws |
| All Competitions (8 matches) | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
The last two meetings, both friendlies in 2018 and a Copa América Centenario match in 2016, both ended in 1-0 victories for the USMNT, highlighting the typically low-scoring nature of this matchup.
The last three competitive meetings have all seen Under 2.5 goals scored, suggesting this is unlikely to be a goal-fest.12
