USA trash Paraguay in World Cup opener
The United States men’s national team kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday morning, June 13, 2026, delivering a statement victory powered by a dominant first-half display.
The USMNT cruised to a 4-1 win over Paraguay, marking their first World Cup match with multiple goals in 24 years. The hosts got off to a dream start when an early own goal in the seventh minute handed them the advantage.
Bolagun shines
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From there, striker Folarin Balogun took control, striking twice, his second coming with virtually the last touch of the first half, to put the Americans firmly in charge before the break.
Paraguay managed to reduce the deficit in the second half, briefly injecting some tension into the contest. However, the United States restored their three-goal cushion deep into stoppage time, with Gio Reyna finding the net in the 98th minute to wrap up the scoring on the final whistle.
While the late Paraguayan goal will have little impact on the result, it could prove meaningful in the group standings, where goal difference may decide which of the third-placed teams progress to the Round of 32 under the tournament format that allows eight of them to advance from the 12 groups.
One possible concern for the U.S. was the condition of Christian Pulisic. The influential attacker impressed during the first half but did not return after the interval. It remains unclear whether his substitution was due to injury or a precautionary decision.
Overall, the United States could hardly have asked for a better start to their tournament. Their aggressive, high-tempo attacking play overwhelmed Paraguay early, and Balogun’s clinical finishing set the tone for a commanding performance that will boost confidence moving forward.
This is clearly a more confident and polished USMNT compared to the side that exited at the Round of 16 in 2022. Backed by an energetic home crowd in Los Angeles, they delivered a performance that underlined their intent on the global stage.
