USA 4-1 Paraguay
What a spectacular start for the hosts, as the United States opened their World Cup 2026 campaign with a 4-1 rout of Paraguay to momentarily seize the top spot in Group D on Friday evening in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. And unlike in their previous encounter, no fights broke out this time.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side was ahead after just seven minutes when Damian Bobadilla scored an own goal, though Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic played pivotal roles in the key sequence. From there, despite being ahead, the United States turned up the pressure on Paraguay, who looked helpless for the most part, especially in the first half.
Folarin Balogun recorded a brace to make it 3-0 for the hosts. Paraguay managed to pull a goal back late in the second half, but Giovanni Reyna put the final nail in the coffin during stoppage time.
The hosts and their home fans left Inglewood with a big smile on their faces, and today, SBOTOP recaps the World Cup 2026 highlights of the contest.
Highlights of the game
The United States look drastically different under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, as they played on the front foot all evening against Paraguay. Folarin Balogun almost scored within the first three minutes, but the Stars and Stripes eventually drew first blood four minutes later.
Christian Pulisic, who completed the joint-most dribbles in the first half (three) and created the joint-most chances (two) before getting subbed off, charged to the left flank in transition and dropped the ball off to Weston McKennie, whose ball deflected off Damian Bobadilla into the net to give the Stars and Stripes the one-goal edge. The United States thought they were up 2-0 shortly before the half-hour mark, but Balogun’s finish was ruled out for offside.
However, Balogun’s disappointment didn’t last long, as he fired into the bottom-right corner from Pulisic’s deflected ball in the 31st minute. The AS Monaco man completed his brace right before halftime, as Balogun held off a sliding tackle from Sunderland’s Omar Alderete before picking out the top-left corner after a brilliant ball from Malik Tillman.
Up 3-0, the Stars and Stripes were more relaxed in the second half. Miguel Almiron tried to draw a penalty from Tim Ream but was given a yellow card for simulation in an attempt to deceive the referees. However, La Albirroja managed to score in the 73rd minute through substitute Mauricio, whose first-time finish from Julio Enciso’s dime got the better of goalkeeper Matt Freese, who started over Matt Turner.
Giovanni Reyna then wrapped up the victory with a superb trivela finish off a beautiful team display eight minutes into stoppage time.
Key statistics
The United States clearly outclassed Paraguay last night. The Stars and Stripes had 63-per cent possession and had more shots (17 to eight) and shots on target (six to one), and their goal at 6:48 is the third-fastest a host nation has scored in their first match at the World Cup after France (0:35) in 1938 and Germany (5:08) in 2006. They also led by three at halftime for the first time in a World Cup match and scored four for the first time.
Centre-back Tim Ream became the oldest player to appear for the United States in the World Cup at 38 years and 250 days. Meanwhile, at an average age of 28 years and 104 days, Paraguay fielded their youngest starting XI in their opening World Cup match since 1998 (26 years and 347 days).
Folarin Balogun became the second American player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match after Bert Patenaude (three) against Paraguay in 1930. With him and Pulisic leading the way, the United States had an xG of 1.35, while restricting Paraguay to just 0.51.
What’s next?
After the United States’ 4-1 rout of Paraguay, Group D action will resume tomorrow when Australia face Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. The winner of this contest will join the Stars and Stripes in the Top 2, though a draw would slightly complicate matters in the table.
The United States will then fly to Lumen Field in Seattle next Thursday night to host Australia, while Turkey will take on Paraguay at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This is certainly a must-win match for La Albirroja to keep their World Cup 2026 odds alive. The final matchday of Group D is on June 25, when the United States return to SoFi Stadium to host Turkey, and Paraguay will face Australia at Levi’s Stadium.
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