USMNT Crushes Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup Opener

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States Men’s National Team kicked off its home World Cup campaign in spectacular fashion on Friday, dismantling Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in front of 70,492 roaring fans. Goals from Folarin Balogun (brace), Christian Pulisic (via an own goal), and substitute Gio Reyna powered the host nation to its most prolific World Cup performance ever, surpassing the total of three goals the USMNT scored in the entire 2022 tournament in Qatar.

According to The Athletic, the first half was “arguably the best half of soccer that the U.S. has ever played at a men’s World Cup.” The emphatic victory marks a dream start for the host nation in the expanded 48-team tournament.

How the Match Unfolded

The U.S. wasted no time asserting its dominance. In the seventh minute, Weston McKennie sprayed the ball out to Pulisic, who dribbled through two Paraguayan defenders and squared the ball back to his teammate. McKennie’s cross deflected off Paraguay defender Damián Bobadilla for an own goal, giving the U.S. an early 1-0 lead.

Just past the half-hour mark, Pulisic turned provider again, collecting the ball on the left wing and crossing for Balogun, who finished calmly inside the far post to make it 2-0. The AS Monaco striker then delivered the moment of the match in first-half stoppage time, rifling a brilliant left-footed strike into the top corner from distance to send the stadium into a frenzy.

ESPN reported that the four goals are the most a U.S. men’s team has ever scored at a World Cup, surpassing the three goals managed across four matches in Qatar 2022.

Pulisic Subbed Off as Precaution

The only concern on an otherwise perfect night came when captain Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime. The AC Milan winger took a kick to the calf during the first half, causing tightness that led to a precautionary substitution.

“We didn’t want to take any risks,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said, as reported by The Athletic. Pulisic himself remained optimistic, stating: “I just got a bit of a kick in the first half. I’m hoping that it’s nothing, taking precaution. … I’m staying positive, I don’t think it’s anything.”

Sebastian Berhalter replaced Pulisic for the second half as the U.S. shifted to a more defensive posture with a three-goal cushion.

Balogun’s Breakout Moment

Folarin Balogun, the British-Nigerian-American striker who committed to the USMNT in 2023 after being recruited away from England’s youth setup, delivered the performance that justified the hype. Coming off a fantastic season at Monaco, Balogun has been the answer to the U.S.’s long-standing need for a reliable No. 9 — a weakness exposed during the 2022 World Cup.

USA Today noted that Balogun’s two-goal outing reinforced why he might be the most important player in the U.S. lineup not named Pulisic. He now has nine goals in his first 27 USMNT appearances.

Second Half and VAR Drama

Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, briefly threatening a comeback. But the U.S. responded emphatically in stoppage time when substitute Gio Reyna bent a spectacular shot off the outside of his boot into the net to restore the three-goal advantage.

The match also featured a notable VAR intervention for “mistaken identity.” Tim Ream’s yellow card was overturned after review showed he did not make contact with Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón, who was instead carded for embellishment.

What It Means for Group D

The victory puts the USMNT in commanding position in Group D. According to The Athletic’s World Cup tracker, the U.S. now has a 97 percent chance of advancing to the Round of 32 and a 59 percent chance of winning the group. The expanded 48-team format, where eight third-place teams also advance, further bolsters the U.S.’s path to the knockout stage.

Looking Ahead

The USMNT next faces Australia on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle (3 p.m. ET, FOX/Telemundo). A win would virtually guarantee advancement to the knockout stage. The group stage concludes against Turkey on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium.

Pulisic’s calf will be closely monitored over the next week, but both the player and coaching staff have expressed confidence that the issue is minor. If the U.S. can maintain this level of performance, expectations for a deep tournament run — potentially matching or exceeding the quarterfinal finish of 2002 — will only continue to grow.

The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.