2026 FIFA World Cup Best Bets: USA vs. Paraguay, Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Team USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino joked Thursday that he has nothing more to say to his players heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He's still on speaking terms with his 26-man roster, but he feels he doesn't have anything else he can say that will prepare them for this tournament.

The biggest tournament in the history of U.S. soccer starts for the Americans tonight when Team USA takes to the pitch to face Paraguay, a team they know well, having played them last November in a friendly match.

(Photo by Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)

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How to Watch Friday's World Cup Matches

• Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m. ET, FOX and Tubi, Peacock
• United States vs Paraguay, 9 p.m. ET, FOX and Tubi, Peacock

2026 FIFA World Cup Best Bets: USA favored to win on home soil against Los Guaraníes

World Cup Odds in this betting guide are from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Odds for USA vs. Paraguay

• United States +105
• Paraguay -290
• TIE +210

If you're looking for sunshine and rainbows about the U.S. National Team, you've reached the wrong sportswriter. I will be watching as many of the 104 matches as I can over the next five weeks, and I'll lay down bets on many, but I don't have a lot of faith in the American soccer team.

However, if there's a match we can almost assure ourselves this confusing team will win, it's the opening one against Paraguay tonight. As much as anything, Los Angeles Stadium will be Team USA's best asset when it squares off against Los Guaraníes and Paraguay.

When picking a match in the World Cup group stage round, you can only use so much analysis of recent play. Nowhere is that more true than with a host nation. Team USA didn't have to qualify for this World Cup. There was no sense of urgency, and it showed in its matches in other tournaments and friendlies. The U.S. lost 2-1 to powerhouse Germany in Chicago last month. Paraguay won a match against Nicaragua last week as a sort of going away present for its own fans before heading to the United States.

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Injuries can be important, and the Paraguay team team will be without forward Julio Enciso, who suffered a leg ailment in the match against Nicaragua. But more importantly, Paraguay has only slipped into this tournament because the event was expanded to 48 nations. Previously, only 32 competed. The Paraguayans are ranked 41st in the world.

My World Cup Pick: USA vs. Paraguay

Last November, the U.S. defeated Paraguay 2-1 in Pennsylvania in a match that included a stoppage time fight between these teams. The U.S. played just well enough to win that gritty matchup. I think playing on home soil will once again prove pivotal in this opening match of the World Cup.

• USA vs Paraguay To Draw at Half: -110 from FanDuel

Familiarity breeds contempt. The Paraguay national team has a chip on its collective shoulder following the hotly contested match last year between these teams. I expect a tight, scoreless first half with nerves keeping the U.S. team and its opponent from getting anything on the board.

Your winning $100 bet will be worth around $91 in winnings if the match is a draw at the half.

2026 World Cup Best Bets: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Odds via FanDuel

Odds for Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Canada -125
• Bosnia and Herzegovina +380
• TIE +250

To say Canada is a favorite is a bit misleading. The Canadians have a deeper, more experienced professional roster than their first match opponent. And its first match opponent, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are woefully undermanned.

Even with an injury to Alphonso Davies, who will miss most this match and possibly more with the effects of an ACL tear, Team Canada has lots of firepower, especially on the defensive end of the pitch.

B&H has not been ranked in the Top 20 worldwide since 2013. It enters the FIFA World Cup ranked 64th. Only a shocking upset of Italy in March allowed Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualify for this tournament. Its just the second time the nation has qualified in this century.

• Canada 2-Up Early Payout: -130 from FanDuel

Under an Early Payout bet, you win your wager if your team is up by two goals during the 90 minutes plus stoppage time regardless if your selection goes on to draw or lose the game. Note that if your team wins, you do not get an extra payout: you can only win once with this bet. Even if your team loses eventually, your early payout wager wins if your team gets that two-goal lead.