By Temi Kings
The United States men’s national team kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey on home soil in emphatic fashion, dismantling Paraguay 4-1 at a star-studded Los Angeles Stadium. In a match that served as a statement of intent for the co-hosts, Mauricio Pochettino’s side delivered an electrifying performance that left the home crowd in raptures.
A fast start and first-half flurry
The intensity was palpable from the opening whistle, with the U.S. wasting no time asserting dominance. The breakthrough came early in the 6th minute when a brilliant piece of individual play from Christian Pulisic led to a scramble in the box, resulting in an own goal by Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla.
The Americans’ momentum was unstoppable. Folarin Balogun, who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, found the back of the net in the 30th minute after a precise setup from Pulisic. Just before halftime, Balogun doubled his tally, cutting inside to smash a clinical left-footed strike into the top corner, sending the USA into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Second-half resilience and a late stunner
Paraguay returned from the locker room with renewed energy, bringing on Maurício to spark their attack. Their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute, as Maurício latched onto a subtle pass from Julio Enciso to fire home, giving the visitors a brief glimmer of hope.
While Paraguay pushed to bridge the gap, the U.S. defense, led by the returning Chris Richards, held firm to keep the South Americans at bay. In the final seconds of stoppage time, Giovanni Reyna provided the perfect punctuation mark to the match, curling a superb effort with the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner to seal the 4-1 victory.
Looking ahead
This dominant display provides the co-hosts with a massive morale boost as they navigate Group D. With Folarin Balogun named the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match, the team will look to carry this offensive form into their upcoming clash against Australia. For Paraguay, the result is a setback, but they will look to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge in the tournament.
