The United States men continue their preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they take on Paraguay in Chester, PA on Saturday.
A number of key star players, including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman are all absent due to injuries or other reasons, leaving Mauricio Pochettino to continue working through the team's depth at the cost of building chemistry with the first team.
Paraguay, ranked 39th in the world, qualified for next summer's World Cup with the final spot in the CONMEBOL standings, finishing sixth, one place behind Brazil and one above Bolivia who will be forced to contest the intercontinental playoff.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs. Paraguay match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
USA (3-4-3, right to left): Freese (GK) -- M. Robinson, McKenzie, Ream -- Dest, Tessman, Roldan, Arfsten -- Reyna, Balogun, Aaronson.
Paraguay (4-2-3-1, right to left): R. Fernandez (GK) -- Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, J. Alonso -- Bobadilla, Cubas -- D. Gonzalez, D. Gomez, Almiron -- Sanabria.
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2 hours to kickoff: While there are a number of key first-team players missing from the USMNT squad, one position that seems finally at full strength is the striker spot.
Mauricio Pochettino is excited to have the supposed three first-choice strikers available in Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright. He admits that Ricardo is "a bit behind" the other two due to his injury struggles, but he is already back to scoring with PSV and should be competing for a World Cup spot.
This international friendly match kicks off from Subaru Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union, on Saturday, November 15 at 5 p.m. local time in Chester, Pennsylvania. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the United States:
Given the set-up in recent friendlies, it seems likely Pochettino will persist with a back-three formation, which will likely mean the returning Sergino Dest is deployed at right wing-back. Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten should get another chance to stake a claim for the left flank in the absence of injured Antonee Robinson.
Tanner Tessman and Timmy Tillman will hope for an opportunity after Tyler Adams withdrew from the roster due to injury. Further forward, both Gio Reyna and Diego Luna should get game time while Christian Pulisic sits out this month's games, although perhaps not in the same XI.
Strikers Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright should all get a chance to impress this month. Balogun feels like the more likely starter this weekend, with Pepi having had limited first-team football at PSV over recent weeks.
USA projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Freese (GK) -- M. Robinson, McKenzie, Ream -- Dest, Tessman, Roldan, Arfsten -- Reyna, Balogun, Aaronson.
USA subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
There are a number of current and former Premier League players in the Paraguay squad, and many of them should see the field.
Former Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gomez has been thriving at Brighton, and he should start in the attack. Former Newcastle star Miguel Almiron, now back at Atlanta United, eyes his 72nd international cap, while Julio Enciso of Chelsea, on loan at Strasbourg, is in contention as well.
Paraguay projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): R. Fernandez (GK) -- Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, J. Alonso -- Bobadilla, Cubas -- D. Gonzalez, D. Gomez, Almiron -- Sanabria.
TeamB subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Here's how to watch this World Cup qualifying match in the U.S.:
TV channel: TNT
Live stream: DirecTV, Max
The friendly matchup between USMNT and Paraguay will be broadcast on TNT, but cord-cutters and fans can also stream the action live on DirecTV.
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