The whistle-blower at LA Stadium: Who is officiating the USA vs Paraguay World Cup clash?

As the USMNT prepares for a high-stakes home opener, the spotlight turns to Dutch official Danny Makkelie to steer the match.

The atmosphere in Los Angeles is electric, and for good reason. It has been over three decades since the United States last hosted a FIFA World Cup match on home soil, and the tension ahead of the USA vs Paraguay fixture at the Los Angeles Stadium is palpable. While fans are obsessing over starting line-ups and tactical shifts, the quiet, disciplined man tasked with maintaining order on the pitch has emerged as a focal point of pre-match discussions.

The man in the middle

FIFA has confirmed that Dutch referee Danny Makkelie will officiate the USA vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup clash. A veteran of the game, the 43-year-old has been on the FIFA list since 2011 and brings a wealth of experience to this high-pressure opener. Makkelie’s resume is extensive: he has refereed over 770 matches across all competitions, including eight fixtures in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season.

His disciplinary record suggests a firm hand on the pitch. Over his career, Makkelie has brandished 2,508 yellow cards and 186 red cards. This will be his second World Cup, following his stint in the 2022 edition, and he is expected to lean on his familiarity with high-stakes European football—having officiated at the 2021 and 2024 UEFA Euros—to manage the nerves of two squads desperate for a winning start.

The support team

Makkelie won’t be alone in his decisions. He will be flanked by fellow Dutchmen Hessel Steegstra and Jan De Vries as assistant referees. The officiating team is truly global, with Japan’s Yusuke Araki serving as the fourth official, while Spain’s Carlos Del Cerro Grande will oversee the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room. This diverse officiating crew is designed to ensure that the heavy reliance on technology—a hallmark of modern football—is handled with precision during these crucial opening days of the tournament.

Why it matters

For the USMNT, this match is about erasing the bitter memory of their Round of 16 exit in the previous tournament. For Paraguay, it is a chance to re-emerge on the global stage, having not tasted World Cup action since their quarter-final run in 2010. The selection of a seasoned European referee like Makkelie is a signal from FIFA that they expect a fast-paced, physical contest where consistency is key.

The pressure on the referee in a home opener is always amplified; the crowd is loud, the expectations are sky-high, and every VAR check threatens to halt the momentum of a nation waiting for a hero. Makkelie’s ability to "let the game flow" while keeping the match from boiling over will likely define the narrative of the match as much as any goal scored by the strikers.