WORLD CUP GROUP D: The Ultra previews USA v PARAGUAY with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
🏆 World Cup 2026 🏆
🇺🇸 USA v Paraguay 🇵🇾
2am (Saturday) It’s finally the USA’s turn. The co-hosts get their home World Cup up and running on WORLD CUP 2026 Betdaq Betting Exchange! when they open Group D against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday morning UK time. Much has been made about the USA getting this World Cup with ticket prices, and indeed ticket sales – now it’s time to do the talking on the pitch. FIFA are probably desperate for the USA to do well – they definitely need the domestic boost; it feels like they have made this tournament too expensive for fans to travel! USA are favourites to top the group on home soil, but this opener is anything but straightforward. USA are trading 2.04 with Paraguay 4.3 and the draw is 3.5 at the time of writing.
There’s was no qualifying drama here for the USA – as co-hosts they were handed their automatic berth, so we still don’t fully know their true level heading into this. What we do know is that the warm up form was a worry; they shipped five against Belgium and lost 2-0 to Portugal in their March friendlies. Those are two sides are well above their level, but it wasn’t the reassurance Mauricio Pochettino (pictured below) would have wanted. The Argentine has restored some belief since taking charge in 2024, but he is working with limited ability here in my opinion. History is firmly on the hosts’ side – 21 of the last 22 host nations have reached the knockout stages.
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The big concern for the USA is in midfield, where Johnny Cardoso is out for the tournament after ankle surgery, leaving Pochettino with less depth than he’d have liked. Defensive fragility shown against the better sides is the obvious worry against a team set up to punish mistakes. Paraguay won’t come to open up. Alfaro’s side are organised, physical and an absolute nightmare to break down; they’ll be more than happy to sit in, frustrate the hosts and look to nick something on the counter. The 2.04 on the USA looks very short here in my opinion. The USA carry the weight of a nation on opening weekend, Paraguay are the most disciplined defensive unit CONMEBOL produced this cycle, and I just can’t see the hosts willing easily here.
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Obviously having home advantage at a World Cup is a big advantage, but I do feel there’s a lot of value on offer laying USA. Opening games of major tournaments are notoriously cagey, nervy affairs, and this one has all the ingredients. Given USA are favourites to top the Group; Paraguay won’t be unhappy with a draw here and will set out their stall for that in my opinion. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a quiet game, and Under 2.5 goals has to be a consideration at 1.68 but I do feel the USA lay offers a lot of value here. I feel this game will be far closer than the favourite’s price suggests.
The Ultra Says:
Three points lay (liability) USA to beat Paraguay at 2.04 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/WCUsPa
