The United States could not have asked for a better start to their home FIFA World Cup campaign, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday.
Playing a World Cup match on home soil for the first time since 1994, the hosts took control from the outset and rarely looked troubled. An early own goal from Damian Bobadilla set the tone before Folarin Balogun struck twice in the first half to put the Americans firmly in command.
FIFA World Cup 2026, USA vs Paraguay: Highlights
Paraguay pulled one back through Mauricio in the second half, but the result was never in doubt as Gio Reyna capped an impressive night with a stunning stoppage-time strike to seal a convincing victory for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Balogun thought he had doubled the lead shortly before the half-hour mark, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. The striker did not have to wait long for his goal. In the 31st minute, Pulisic again proved the creator, slipping a precise pass through the Paraguay defence for Balogun to finish first time.
The Monaco forward struck again in first-half stoppage time with the goal of the match. Receiving Malik Tillman’s pass on the right edge of the penalty area, Balogun cut inside two defenders before curling a superb effort into the top corner to make it 3-0 at the break.
Paraguay showed more urgency after half-time and reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute. Julio Enciso reacted quickest to a loose ball and fed Mauricio, who beat goalkeeper Matt Freese with a low finish to give his side a glimmer of hope.
The hosts, however, remained in control. Substitute Ricardo Pepi nearly restored the three-goal advantage moments later but was denied by goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
Reyna ensured the night ended on a high note for the Americans. Deep into stoppage time, the midfielder capped a sweeping counterattack with a brilliant outside-of-the-boot finish that flew beyond Gil and into the net.
The match also marked the return of defender Chris Richards, who had missed the United States’ final warm-up matches after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Crystal Palace last month. Freese was preferred in goal ahead of Matt Turner, who started every match for the United States at the 2022 World Cup.
The result puts the United States in a strong early position in Group D. The hosts will next face Australia in Seattle on June 19, while Paraguay take on Turkey later the same day.
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