Is USMNT Playing Tonight? World Cup Schedule & Timings for 12th June
The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) will kick off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on June 12 with a match against Paraguay in a pivotal Group D clash at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, making it one of the headline fixtures on the opening day of the tournament. The match carries extra significance as it marks the first World Cup game played by the USMNT on home soil since the United States hosted the tournament in 1994.
In recent years, the American team has been building up a reputation. The team has a talented nucleus of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, and Folarin Balogun, and fans are hoping for the best of the best to make their deepest World Cup run in decades.
USMNT Looking To Make Strong Start Against Paraguay
If the Americans can get a positive result against Paraguay, it could be vital to their chances of moving on from Group D. The USMNT has a lot of talent coming into the tournament, but there are some concerns. The team has been inconsistent in the months leading up to the tournament and is now putting extra emphasis on the first match.
Pochettino, who took over from the head coach in 2024, has emphasized the need for mental toughness and determination on numerous occasions. The Argentine coach recently said that his goal is not just to make it to the knockout rounds, but to create a team that can compete with the top teams in the world.
Paraguay, on the other hand, is a formidable opponent that is known for its defensive organization and physical play. The South Americans will be keen to spoil the party and secure a valuable win against one of the tournament hosts.
Full World Cup Schedule for June 12
June 12 is not the only day for the USMNT to be on the field. Canada will open its World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto earlier in the day, and Jesse Marsch's team will be looking to take advantage of the home advantage.
The opening day programme provides an opportunity for fans to witness the start of the campaigns of two of the three host countries. The third co-host, Mexico, has already won its opening game against South Africa.
The United States will next play against Australia on June 19 before finishing group-stage action against Turkiye on June 25 after their encounter with Paraguay.
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET on June 12 in Canada and the United States, 1:00 p.m. CDT in Mexico, 8:00 p.m. BST in the United Kingdom, 9:00 p.m. CEST across much of Europe, and 12:30 a.m. IST on June 13 in India. Fans can watch live on TSN and CTV (Canada), FOX and Telemundo (USA), BBC and iPlayer (UK), TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca (Mexico), Sports18 and JioHotstar (India), and regional broadcasters across Europe.
USMNT vs Paraguay follows later in the day, kicking off at 9:00 p.m. ET in the United States and Canada, 7:00 p.m. CDT in Mexico, 2:00 a.m. BST (June 13) in the United Kingdom, 3:00 a.m. CEST (June 13) across much of Europe, and 6:30 a.m. IST (June 13) in India. The match will be broadcast on FOX and Telemundo (USA), TSN and CTV (Canada), BBC and iPlayer (UK), TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca (Mexico), Sports18 and JioHotstar (India), along with regional rights holders across Europe.
But for the time being, the attention is still on June 12. The USMNT will be playing in a packed stadium in Los Angeles, and millions of Americans will be watching, and they have a chance to set the tone for what could be a defining World Cup on home soil.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM.