USMNT's Opening World Cup Opponent Loses Star Player to Shocking Injury

The United States Men’s National Team begins its World Cup journey one week from now in Los Angeles against Paraguay, and that game’s forecast might have changed drastically after what happened tonight in a friendly game.

Paraguay was finishing up their tune-up for the World Cup with a match against Nicaragua, and things looked like they were going to be just fine after getting to an early lead.

But everything changed when the team’s most creative and arguably best player, Julio Enciso, went down with what looked to be a serious injury a little after 20 minutes into the game.

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Enciso was stretchered off the field with tears in his eyes as the home crowd sat in stunned silence in what was supposed to be a joyous sendoff for their national team.

Although Paraguay continued to take care of business and handily beat Nicaragua without Enciso, team officials announced that he would undergo MRI testing later tonight to assess the severity of the injury.

It would be a severe blow to a Paraguay team in a difficult Group D, not only against the hosts, the United States, but also a physically tough Australian squad and a Turkey team led by generational youngsters Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız.

For the Americans, it also shines a spotlight on their final friendly before the Paraguay game against Germany, as they will hope to get through the 90 minutes with the full roster healthy.

Enciso, who plays for RC Strasbourg Alsace in France, was not the only youngster to suffer a possible major injury on Friday. Germany’s future in attack, Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich, was pulled from the World Cup following an injury in practice before Saturday’s game with the USMNT.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM.