Brooklyn-born Folarin Balogun became the first USMNT player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1930 and the USMNT cruised to their first victory in a World Cup opening game since 2002 over Paraguay.
From the beginning, the USMNT were the quicker, more creative side and they attacked Paraguay relentlessly for 90 minutes at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles Friday in their first group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Just six minutes into the game, the USMNT capitalized on Paraguay’s slowness. Pennsylvania-native Christian Pulisic received a pass down the left side of the field and took on two defenders, making a nifty dribble through the gap between the defenders that worked. Once inside the 18-yard box, Captain America passed over to Weston McKennie, who then tried to pass it to Balogun but a Paraguay defender got to the ball first, knocking it into his own net for the own goal.
A minute after the first half hydration break, Balogun scored but the goal was pulled back due to offsides. In the 30th minute, Balogun scored for real. A great ball sent down the left side was latched onto by Pulisic, who burned Junior Alonso and sent a ground cross into the box. The cross took a deflection and landed right in the path of Balogun who slotted it home to give the tournament co-hosts a 2-0 lead.
The USMNT took full advantage of five minutes of stoppage time. Malik Tillman received the ball from the backline near midfield and played an absolutely perfectly weighted ball through the lines for Balogun, who caught up to it, rode the challenge of Paraguay defender Omar Alderete, before cutting inside to pick upper ninety and make it 3-0 USMNT.
Early in the second half, the first VAR review of the game happened. Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron appeared to have been taken down by a slide tackle by USMNT captain Tim Ream who was shown a yellow card but upon further review the referee deemed that Almiron had simulated the contact. Ream’s yellow was rescinded and Almiron was shown a yellow instead.
In the 72nd minute of the match, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino made two substitutions.
- Tim Weah on for Sergino Dest at RM
- Ricardo Pepi on for Folarin Balogun at ST
One minute later, the US didn’t deal with a long free kick well that was sent into their half and Almiron controlled the ball and passed to Paraguay’s star Julio Enciso. Enciso could have gone for the shot but laid a through pass ahead for Mauricio who sent the ball skiddering into the bottom right corner past USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese to put Paraguay on the board.
In the 82nd minute, Gio Reyna was subbed onto the field for Tillman.
Eight minutes later, Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gil made a poor clearance that was picked off by Sebastian Berhalter. With the keeper well off his line, Berhalter attempted to lob the ball into the net from distance but mishit it.
At the very end of second half stoppage time, Reyna didn’t mishit the ball. In fact, the 23-year-old found himself with space just inside Paraguay’s 18 and, with the outside of his boot, lashed the ball into the back of the net for his first World Cup goal, sealing a dominant performance for the United States.
This was the USMNT’s first four-goal performance at the World Cup and they have been to 12 World Cups.
Pochettino’s men will now prepare to face Australia in their second group stage match on Friday June 19 at 3 p.m. ET.
