United States opens 2026 World Cup with 4-1 win over Paraguay
Balogun scored twice as the United States topped Group D with three points, while Paraguay conceded again in stoppage time through Reyna.
The United States opened the 2026 World Cup on home soil with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the Group D opener at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Saturday. The hosts went ahead early through an own goal by Damian Bobadilla in the seventh minute after a combination from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. Folarin Balogun then doubled the lead in the 30th minute and scored his second goal just before halftime from a Malik Tillman assist. Paraguay cut the deficit in the 73rd minute through Mauricio after a pass from Julio Enciso. Giovanni Reyna sealed the emphatic win for the United States with a goal in the 90+8 minute. The result put Mauricio Pochettino's team top of Group D with three points.