Christian Pulisic and the US face Paraguay in their World Cup opener. Photograph: Chris Arjoon/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
After Mexico got the ball rolling as World Cup co-hosts on Thursday, it is the turn of Canada and the USA to start their respective campaigns on home soil.
Canada take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in what will be the first men's World Cup match ever played in The Great White North. Jesse Marsch's side are under pressure to start with three points in a competitive-looking group.
Then the USA face Paraguay in Los Angeles. Nobody really knows what to expect of Mauricio Pochettino's team at this World Cup, but Friday's match will set the tone for the tournament ahead, positively or negatively.
Here is your complete guide on how to watch Friday's World Cup games, including kick-off times, broadcast networks, and online streaming options.
Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina
Time (ET): 3pm
Stadium: Toronto Stadium
How to watch
- United States: FOX / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)
- Canada: CTV / TSN (Stream)
- United Kingdom: BBC / ITV (Stream)
- Australia: SBS (Stream)
What to watch for
Canada's preparations for their World Cup opener have been hit hard by injury concerns. Alphonso Davies is not expected to feature and Moise Bombito is a doubt. Both players are crucial to Marsch's set-up, so winning without them will be difficult.
Both sides are on eight-game unbeaten runs, with Canada undefeated in their last six meetings with European opponents. Bosnia and Herzegovina may still be riding the wave of their momentous playoff win over Italy to make the World Cup for only the second time in their history as an independent nation.
This is a match that could swing either way and could be a high-energy encounter, such is the transition-heavy approach of both teams.
Player to watch: Jonathan David, Canada. While Davies may be Canada's best player, David could be their most important with the way he links up play in the final third, doing his best Harry Kane impression in deep areas and offering a goal threat inside the box.
USA v Paraguay
Time (ET): 9pm
Stadium: Los Angeles Stadium
How to watch
- United States: FOX / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)
- Canada: TSN (Stream)
- United Kingdom: BBC / ITV (Stream)
- Australia: SBS (Stream)
What to watch for
It would be easy to bill Friday's match at SoFi Stadium as the culmination of Pochettino's near two-year spell in charge of the US, but the process that has led to this point can be traced back much further than that. Indeed, the 2026 World Cup was spoken about as long ago as the USA's failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament. This was the end point for a group of young players widely billed as the USA's golden generation.
Now that the moment is here, it is unclear if the USMNT will rise to the occasion. The likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards have the talent to perform, yet it is impossible to ignore a certain nervousness ahead of the tournament. A USA win over Paraguay, however, would completely change the atmosphere.
Player to watch: Weston McKennie, USA. Fresh from the best season of his career, McKennie will be an important figure for the US in their efforts to turn possession phases into attacking opportunities.
Some streaming links in this article were provided by the Guardian's advertising partner, FuboTV.
