Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT continues to gather momentum, this time beating fellow World Cup entrant Paraguay 2-1 on a scrappy Saturday friendly on home soil.
Giovanni Reyna’s return to the team and Starting XI was triumphant as he headed in a fourth-minute cross from Max Arfsten then worked a would-be 1-2 with Folarin Balogun that was finished in the end by the Monaco forward.
MORE — USMNT vs Paraguay player ratings | What we learned
This is undoubtedly the best stretch of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure as USMNT boss, and doesn’t get any easier on Tuesday with a visit from Uruguay.
Paraguay’s goal was set up by Miguel Almiron and finished by Alex Arce in the 10th minute.
The game was notable for the USMNT’s performance without a number of stars including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Timothy Weah, and Chris Richards, and a late fight saw Sunderland’s Omar Alderete sent off for Paraguay.
What’s next?
The Yanks get a Uruguay side who grouped them at the World Cup just over 16 months ago. A performance and/or result here will really fuel the hope tank heading into 2026. Heck, it might be pretty full anyway.
USMNT vs Paraguay final score: 2-1
Giovanni Reyna 4', Alex Arce 10', Folarin Balogun 71'
USMNT vs Paraguay live updates — by Nick Mendola
Fight & red card
We’re into stoppage time and there’s a sea of bodies coming together near the midfield touch line.
It’s Alex Freeman put in a headlock as Paraguay tries to stop the Yanks from taking a throw.
Sunderland’s Omar Alderete is sent off. He’s not even in the game and appeared to take a swing at Freeman.
Paraguay’s Junior Alonso is also cautioned by the referee.
Pepi butches chance to make it 3-1
Diego Luna carves up the left wing and his cross is blocked to Ricardo Pepi, all alone at the back post.
He can score first time but he takes a second touch, and another touch before seeing his shot blocked by a lunging defender.
Not great.
Sebastian Berhalter is the latest USMNT sub, replacing Aaronson.
More USMNT subs
Aidan Morris, Timothy Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi go into the game.
Off go Reyna, Balogun, and Roldan in the 75th.
Folarin Balogun goal — USMNT 2-1 Paraguay
You want your striker to take his chances even in quiet affairs, and Balogun’s scored again for the USA.
Diego Luna forces a turnover in Paraguay’s half, and Giovanni Reyna picks up the ball from Balogun’s hold-up.
Reyna’s cutback doesn’t reach Balogun but is blocked onto his path, and the Monaco man slashes home with his left.
Paraguay sub
First change of either team comes from Paraguay, who insert Ramon Sosa for Brighton’s Diego Gomez in the 61st minute.
Hour-mark status check
Just posting to let you know we’re alive.
Not as fun start to the second half as the first by a mile.
Only one combined shot attempt — it belongs to Paraguay — but the Yanks are swinging the ball around the back to the tune of 65% possession in the second half.
1-1, 60'.
Halftime — United States 1-1 Paraguay
Paraguay’s goal is a good reminder of how the best international teams can lose their tournament dreams in a single moment.
Paraguay are no slouch but the Yanks have been better on home soil through 45 minutes except for La Albirroja‘s moment of magic.
Not a keeper expert here, but would be willing to say we wanted more from Matt Freese on that play, but it’s 1-1 despite the USMNT’s status as the superior side.
Shots 4-3 for the USMNT with 55% possession. It feels like more, and the Yanks have gotten almost nothing yet from Brenden Aaronson and Folarin Balogun.
Miles Robinson yellow card
The center back gets in the way of Miguel Almiron, who’s ready to make the most of his physical ex-club teammate.
Orlando Gill save!
The San Lorenzo man is centrally-stationed to make this save, but it’s piped his way.
Sergino Dest shakes a mark on the right side and cuts back for Cristian Roldan, who hammers a waist-high shot on goal.
1-1, 19'.
Alex Arce goal — USMNT 1-1 Paraguay
Miguel Almiron blazes down the left flank and is just onside as he gets the better of Joe Scally and cuts a cross toward goal from an odd ankle.
Matt Freese is anchored to his line — he really could’ve got to this — and Miles Robinson can’t reach the cross before Alex Arce, who has burst past Tim Ream, buries an equalizer at the back post.
Giovanni Reyna goal — USMNT 1-0 Paraguay
Well, that’s a dream start for the Borussia Monchengladbach man.
The Yanks win a questionable corner and make the most of it. Paraguay block multiple shots and the ball drifts out to the right flank.
Max Arfsten carries it toward the end line and chips a cross toward the penalty spot, where Reyna rises high to head off the underside of the bar and over the line.
USMNT notes
If this is a back three, then Joe Scally is playing as a CB with Ream and Robinson. If it’s a back four, then Scally will likely be support for the attack-minded and defensively-challenged Arfsten as a left-sided attacker.
Matt Freese is clearly Pochettino’s goalkeeper for the World Cup unless injury befalls the backstop. Giovanni Reyna’s first USMNT start in ages will test his fitness. He’ll be key to finding Folarin Balogun in promising places.
USMNT lineup
Freese, Dest, Robinson, Ream, Scally, Arfsten, Roldan, Tessmann, Aaronson, Reyna, Balogun
Paraguay lineup
Gill, Caceres, G. Gomez, Alonso, Riveros, Bobadilla, D. Gomez, Almiron, Enciso, Arce.
USMNT vs Paraguay preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Pochettino is missing many key players through injury for this game (Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Tim Weah to name a few), while the likes of Weston McKennie, Chris Richards and Malik Tillman have all been left out but will no doubt be in the World Cup squad next summer. These friendlies against Paraguay on Saturday and Uruguay on Tuesday are perhaps the last chance for fringe players to impress and it feels particularly big for Gio Reyna, Auston Trusty, and Tanner Tessmann to stake a claim for a spot on the World Cup roster.
Paraguay did extremely well in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying as they reached their first World Cup since 2010. Their star player is Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron, while the likes of Julio Enciso and Diego Gomez are players with Premier League experience and Omar Alderete will keep things tight at the back. Head coach Gustavo Alfaro guided Paraguay through an extremely solid qualification campaign as they conceded just 10 goals through 18 games and are so tough to break down.
USMNT team news, focus
You can find our predicted lineup for the USMNT here, as Pochettino will hand out plenty of chances for players to impress. Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest, and Tim Ream should all start and are likely to start at the World Cup next summer, and then it’s really up in the air. Pochettino could experiment with a back three and it’s likely we see Tessmann, Trusty, and Reyna start as they all have the quality to push for a starting spot but will first be focused on impressing in these games to definitely get in the World Cup squad. Even though the USMNT is missing plenty of starters for this game, Pochettino will want to see his side build on their high-energy and disciplined displays against Ecuador and Australia last month. This is also a big chance for forwards Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright to lock down their spots in the squad.
Paraguay team news, focus
Almiron and Enciso will be a real handful in attack while Brighton’s Diego Gomez will provide plenty of power and late runs into the box from midfield. Sunderland’s Alderete will anchor defense and Paraguay are all about sitting back deep and hitting teams on the counter. They have the perfect players to do that in Almiron, Enciso and Gomez and they will provide a really good test of the USMNT’s concentration levels.
USMNT vs Paraguay prediction
With the pressure off and both teams set to try out some new players this feels like it could be a pretty open, entertaining game if there’s an early goal. USMNT 2-2 Paraguay.
How to watch USMNT vs Paraguay live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 5pm ET Saturday (November 15)
Venue: Subaru Park — Chester, Pennsylvania
TV Channel: Telemundo, Universo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock en Espanol
